.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can follow him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Gulf 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. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers developed very early that Thursday night's video game would certainly be actually an outrageous slugfest along with both teams racking up goals on their initial belongings, so it seemed to be right the NFC South showdown would be actually chosen through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th goal of the video game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gotten in the contest after a trauma to Drake London, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ran out in guideline pushed overtime, and Cousins dealt with the rest as he set a franchise business document along with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his 5th consent passing touchdown in the final min of regulation/OT in the final five periods, which is one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between making the playoffs and also not, in between winning a department as well as certainly not, lies in games like this one, as well as Atlanta georgia has presently had its portion of them.The Falcons have routed within the last minute of the 4th one-fourth in every three of their triumphes this season. They are actually the first string in NFL background to possess 3 success within their 1st five games of a season in which they tracked in the final min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with impressive next sway New Orleans and also Tampa Bay Bay, Atlanta ga possesses an early lead in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could verify critical in December and January in what appears to be a strict division.QB break down: Relatives looked healthy and balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 backyards and three touchdowns in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be actually dominant when he deals with Tampa florida Gulf-- three of his 4 profession 100-yard video games have actually come against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He additionally grabbed his very first touchdown against Tampa bay Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to look additional like the receiver he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two seasons with the Bears. He possessed his first activity with multiple touchdown gets-- in 2021 he had an activity along with a hurrying and also getting touchdown-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 backyards are each near occupation highs for him. He carried out have two decreases, nevertheless, featuring one that might possess shown costly.Most shocking functionality: A full week after not catching a pass versus New Orleans, tight end Kyle Pitts placed in his best statistical video game in nearly a year, taking hold of 7 catches for 88 yards, once again becoming part of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches and yards are his most since Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal celebration, matching 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 group to trump in the NFC South, despite Tampa fl winning the division the past three years. That proved out Thursday evening, from it now being a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a lot of players it requires to receive healthy and balanced, and it has nine days to perform it. The Bucs have to know exactly how to finish, though, with the offense fully obstructed in the 2nd fifty percent and also poor handling on defense.QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 passes for 131 yards, 3 goals-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial fifty percent, with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns through the first five video games are an occupation best.But after the large very first one-half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely did everything in the second one-half via the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest opening in the tactical plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reservoir along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons routinely manipulated K.J. Britt in coverage. He gave up an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' protection surrendering 550 lawns of overall affront. It took a breakthrough recently versus the Eagles in regards to overlooked attacks however struggled against the Falcons within this division. The Falcons completed with 235 lawns after the catch, their very most in a game considering that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).