.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You may follow him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has dealt with the group due to the fact that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and also Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers developed very early that Thursday evening's video game would be an annoying slugfest along with both groups racking up touchdowns on their initial ownerships, so it seemed suitable the NFC South showdown will be actually made a decision by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth goal of the game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually gotten into the contest after an injury to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity ended in policy forced overtime, and also Cousins handled the remainder as he set a franchise business document along with 509 passing lawns to remove Atlanta georgia (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth permission passing touchdown in the last min of regulation/OT in the final 5 seasons, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction in between creating the playoffs and also not, between winning a division as well as certainly not, hinges on video games similar to this one, and also Atlanta georgia has already possessed its reveal of them.The Falcons have actually routed within the final min of the 4th quarter in each 3 of their success this season. They are actually the first string in NFL past history to have 3 triumphes within their very first five activities of a season in which they trailed in the final minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with significant back-to-back draw New Orleans and also Tampa Gulf, Atlanta ga possesses an early lead in the NFC South thanks to tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could possibly show crucial in December as well as January in what appears to be a limited division.QB failure: Cousins looked well-balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand agreement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 goals and 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has thrown for 350 lawns as well as 3 goals in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be actually leading when he experiences Tampa bay Gulf-- three of his 4 job 100-yard video games have actually come against the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He also picked up his very first touchdown against Tampa bay Bay in the initial quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney remains to appear even more like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his last two periods along with the Bears. He had his 1st video game along with several goal gets-- in 2021 he had a game along with a rushing and obtaining touchdown-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are both close to occupation highs for him. He carried out have pair of reduces, nevertheless, featuring one that can have shown costly.Most unusual performance: A week after not catching an elapsed against New Orleans, tight end Kyle Pitts placed in his finest statistical activity in practically a year, getting 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more becoming component of Atlanta's outburst. His catches as well as lawns are his very most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans marked his 99th touchdown function, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the team to defeat in the NFC South, despite Tampa bay winning the branch recent three years. That proved out Thursday night, from it now being actually a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a lot of players it requires to receive well-balanced, and it has nine times to carry out it. The Bucs need to discover exactly how to end up, though, along with the injustice entirely prevented in the 2nd one-half and bad handling on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield completed 13 of 16 passes for 131 lawns, 3 goals-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first half, along with all three touchdowns coming versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 goals through the very first five activities are actually an occupation best.But after the large very first half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers barely performed anything in the second one-half via the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategy: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reservoir with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons regularly made use of K.J. Britt in protection. He gave up an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 yards of total offense. It took a breakthrough last week against the Eagles in terms of missed out on attacks yet resisted the Falcons in this department. The Falcons finished with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in an activity since Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).