.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has covered the group because 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday evening's video game will be an annoying slugfest along with both groups scoring goals on their initial belongings, so it seemed right the NFC South face-off would certainly be actually decided by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth goal of the activity, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had entered into the contest after an accident to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time ended in regulation compelled overtime, and Cousins took care of the remainder as he specified a franchise business file along with 509 passing gardens to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) right into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth go-ahead passing goal in the final min of regulation/OT in the final 5 times, which is one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction in between creating the playoffs and also not, between succeeding a division and also certainly not, depends on video games enjoy this one, and also Atlanta georgia has presently had its own reveal of them.The Falcons have tracked within the last minute of the 4th quarter in each three of their victories this period. They are the first team in NFL record to possess three triumphes within their 1st five games of a time in which they routed in the last moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic back-to-back gain New Orleans and also Tampa Bay Gulf, Atlanta ga possesses an early top in the NFC South with the help of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That can show essential in December as well as January in what appears to be a limited division.QB breakdown: Relatives appeared healthy and balanced and back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 backyards, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has actually thrown for 350 lawns as well as three touchdowns in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be dominant when he deals with Tampa Bay-- three of his four occupation 100-yard games have actually arrived versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He likewise got his 1st touchdown against Tampa bay Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney remains to appear more like the receiver he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate pair of periods with the Bears. He had his initial game with multiple goal sees-- in 2021 he possessed a game along with a hurrying and also receiving touchdown-- and his 9 catches for 105 yards are each near to occupation highs for him. He did have two reduces, nevertheless, including one that could possibly possess confirmed costly.Most surprising efficiency: A full week after certainly not catching an elapsed against New Orleans, limited side Kyle Pitts invested his absolute best analytical game in just about a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 lawns, once again becoming aspect of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches and backyards are his most given that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown event, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the group to trump in the NFC South, even with Tampa fl succeeding the branch the past three years. That rang true Thursday evening, using it now being a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a considerable amount of gamers it needs to have to get healthy, and it has nine times to carry out it. The Bucs must learn exactly how to complete, however, with the affront completely put on hold in the 2nd fifty percent as well as poor tackling on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 gardens, 3 touchdowns-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the very first one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st fifty percent, with all three touchdowns arriving against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns via the very first 5 activities are a profession best.But after the huge 1st fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely carried out everything in the 2nd fifty percent by means of the sky, completing 49 yards.Biggest gap in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on wounded reservoir along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons routinely exploited K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He gave up an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' self defense submitting 550 yards of total offense. It took an advance last week against the Eagles in terms of skipped confronts however resisted the Falcons in this department. The Falcons finished with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in a video game because Week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).