.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You may observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually covered the group due to the fact that 2009. Comply With Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers established very early that Thursday night's game would certainly be actually an outrageous slugfest with both teams racking up touchdowns on their initial properties, so it seemed to be fitting the NFC South showdown will be decided through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th touchdown of the game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually entered the competition after an accident to Drake London, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ended in law forced overtime, and Cousins cared for the rest as he specified a franchise business document along with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth go-ahead passing touchdown in the ultimate min of regulation/OT in the last five periods, which is actually the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between creating the playoffs as well as not, between gaining a branch and also certainly not, hinges on video games like this one, as well as Atlanta possesses presently had its own allotment of them.The Falcons have tracked within the last moment of the fourth one-fourth in each three of their triumphes this period. They are actually the first string in NFL past history to have three success within their first five video games of a period in which they trailed in the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with impressive next sway New Orleans as well as Tampa Bay, Atlanta georgia has a very early top in the NFC South due to sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could verify crucial in December and also January in what looks a limited division.QB malfunction: Relatives looked healthy and back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has tossed for 350 yards as well as three goals in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be prevalent when he faces Tampa fl Gulf-- three of his four profession 100-yard games have arrived versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He likewise picked up his initial touchdown against Tampa Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney remains to look more like the recipient he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two times with the Bears. He had his first game along with numerous touchdown sees-- in 2021 he possessed a game with a hurrying and also obtaining touchdown-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are each close to occupation highs for him. He did possess 2 drops, nonetheless, featuring one that could possibly have proved costly.Most unexpected functionality: A full week after not capturing a pass versus New Orleans, tight side Kyle Pitts placed in his best statistical video game in virtually a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 yards, once more becoming aspect of Atlanta's offense. His catches and yards are his very most given that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown reception, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the crew to trump in the NFC South, despite Tampa bay winning the department recent three years. That proved out Thursday evening, along with it presently being actually a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a great deal of players it needs to have to obtain healthy, and also it possesses nine times to carry out it. The Bucs must know how to end up, however, along with the offense totally put on hold in the 2nd one-half and unsatisfactory handling on defense.QB failure: Cook Mayfield finished 13 of 16 passes for 131 yards, 3 touchdowns-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the first fifty percent. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first one-half, with all 3 touchdowns coming against the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns with the initial 5 activities are a job best.But after the significant very first fifty percent, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers hardly performed anything in the second one-half through the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest hole in the tactical plan: With Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reserve along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons repeatedly capitalized on K.J. Britt in protection. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 lawns of complete injustice. It took a step forward recently versus the Eagles in regards to skipped attacks however struggled against the Falcons within this division. The Falcons completed with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in an activity considering that Week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).