.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has actually covered the group given that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers created early that Thursday night's game will be actually an objectionable slugfest along with both groups scoring touchdowns on their very first ownerships, so it seemed to be fitting the NFC South face-off would certainly be actually decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his fourth goal of the video game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gotten into the competition after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ran out in rule obliged overtime, and Cousins handled the remainder as he prepared a franchise business record with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) in to a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his fifth go-ahead passing touchdown in the ultimate moment of regulation/OT in the last five times, which is actually the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between making the playoffs and certainly not, between gaining a department as well as certainly not, lies in activities similar to this one, and also Atlanta ga possesses presently possessed its reveal of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the last min of the fourth quarter in each 3 of their victories this season. They are actually the first string in NFL past history to have three triumphes within their initial 5 games of a period through which they trailed in the final moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with dramatic next draw New Orleans and Tampa Bay, Atlanta has an early lead in the NFC South thanks to tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That can show crucial in December and also January in what appears to be a strict division.QB failure: Relatives looked healthy and balanced and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has tossed for 350 yards and also three goals in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be prevalent when he encounters Tampa florida Gulf-- 3 of his four career 100-yard video games have arrived against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise picked up his initial goal against Tampa Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney remains to appear more like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two seasons with the Bears. He possessed his initial game with numerous touchdown sees-- in 2021 he had an activity with a rushing and also obtaining goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 gardens are actually both near job highs for him. He carried out have two reduces, having said that, consisting of one that could have proved costly.Most shocking functionality: A full week after certainly not catching a pass against New Orleans, limited side Kyle Pitts put in his finest statistical video game in almost a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 yards, once more emerging as aspect of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and also gardens are his most since Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown reception, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the crew to trump in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa gaining the division recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, with it now being a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a lot of players it needs to receive healthy, as well as it has nine times to do it. The Bucs have to find out how to finish, however, with the affront completely put on hold in the second half and inadequate addressing on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 passes for 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial half, along with all three touchdowns arriving versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals through the 1st five video games are actually a job best.But after the huge very first half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers barely did everything in the second half via the air, totting 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategic plan: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reservoir with a shoulder injury, the Falcons regularly exploited K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He gave up an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' self defense submitting 550 lawns of overall offense. It took an advance recently versus the Eagles in terms of overlooked attacks yet resisted the Falcons in this particular department. The Falcons finished with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in a video game since Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).