.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can easily follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has actually dealt with the team since 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers set up very early that Thursday night's game would certainly be an offending slugfest along with both staffs racking up touchdowns on their 1st properties, so it appeared suitable the NFC South showdown will be actually determined by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his 4th touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually gone into the contest after an injury to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity expired in requirement required overtime, and also Cousins cared for the rest as he specified a franchise business document along with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) right into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his fifth consent passing goal in the final moment of regulation/OT in the last five periods, which is actually the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between creating the playoffs and not, between gaining a department and certainly not, hinges on video games similar to this one, and also Atlanta ga has actually possessed its own reveal of them.The Falcons have trailed within the ultimate min of the 4th one-fourth in all 3 of their wins this period. They are the first team in NFL past history to have three wins within their very first five video games of a season in which they routed in the last minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable back-to-back wins over New Orleans and also Tampa Bay Bay, Atlanta georgia possesses an early lead in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That might confirm essential in December and January in what appears to be a tight division.QB breakdown: Relatives looked healthy and balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million agreement to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 lawns, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has thrown for 350 gardens as well as 3 touchdowns in a prime-time activity, matching Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be actually prevalent when he faces Tampa Gulf-- 3 of his four occupation 100-yard video games have actually come versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He also picked up his very first touchdown versus Tampa florida Bay in the first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney remains to look even more like the recipient he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate 2 periods along with the Bears. He had his first game with various touchdown sees-- in 2021 he had a video game with a rushing as well as obtaining goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 gardens are both near profession highs for him. He performed possess two decreases, nonetheless, featuring one that can have verified costly.Most unusual efficiency: A full week after certainly not catching a successfully pass versus New Orleans, limited side Kyle Pitts invested his best analytical game in almost a year, nabbing 7 catches for 88 gardens, once again emerging as component of Atlanta's outburst. His catches and yards are his very most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal function, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the group to trump in the NFC South, even with Tampa fl winning the division recent three years. That rang true Thursday evening, along with it presently being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a considerable amount of gamers it needs to obtain healthy and balanced, and it possesses 9 days to perform it. The Bucs have to discover exactly how to end up, however, with the affront completely put on hold in the 2nd one-half and inadequate tackling on defense.QB breakdown: Cook Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 gardens, three touchdowns-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the 1st half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, along with all three touchdowns arriving versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals with the first 5 video games are actually a profession best.But after the big 1st fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly carried out just about anything in the second one-half via the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest opening in the tactical plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons regularly exploited K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He gave up an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' self defense surrendering 550 lawns of complete affront. It took a step forward recently versus the Eagles in regards to skipped tackles but resisted the Falcons in this team. The Falcons do with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in a video game since Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).