.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has actually covered the group since 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and also Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers created early that Thursday evening's video game would be actually an offending slugfest with both teams scoring touchdowns on their initial ownerships, so it seemed fitting the NFC South face-off will be actually made a decision by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gone into the competition after an injury to Drake London, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ran out in requirement compelled overtime, and also Cousins dealt with the rest as he specified a franchise report along with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his fifth go-ahead passing goal in the final min of regulation/OT in the last 5 periods, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between making the playoffs and certainly not, in between gaining a department and certainly not, hinges on games enjoy this one, and also Atlanta georgia has actually possessed its reveal of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the final moment of the 4th one-fourth in each three of their triumphes this season. They are actually the first team in NFL history to possess 3 victories within their first five activities of a season in which they trailed in the ultimate moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with impressive back-to-back sway New Orleans and also Tampa Fl Gulf, Atlanta ga has an early top in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That can prove crucial in December as well as January in what looks a strict division.QB failure: Relatives looked healthy and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand contract to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 gardens, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 gardens as well as three touchdowns in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be leading when he deals with Tampa fl Gulf-- 3 of his 4 profession 100-yard video games have come versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise picked up his very first goal against Tampa fl Gulf in the initial quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney remains to look more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate pair of periods along with the Bears. He possessed his 1st game with several goal catches-- in 2021 he possessed a video game along with a hurrying and getting goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 gardens are actually both close to occupation highs for him. He performed have pair of drops, however, including one that could possibly have verified costly.Most surprising performance: A week after not catching a successfully pass versus New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts invested his finest statistical activity in nearly a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 backyards, once more emerging as part of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches as well as lawns are his most because Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans marked his 99th goal reception, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the team to beat in the NFC South, despite Tampa bay winning the department the past three years. That rang true Thursday evening, along with it today being a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a considerable amount of gamers it needs to have to acquire healthy and balanced, and it possesses nine days to perform it. The Bucs have to know how to finish, though, along with the injustice totally stymied in the second fifty percent and also bad addressing on defense.QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 lawns, three touchdowns-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first one-half, with all three touchdowns arriving versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the very first five games are an occupation best.But after the major very first one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers barely carried out anything in the 2nd half via the air, totting 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategy: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons often exploited K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' self defense relinquishing 550 gardens of complete injustice. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in regards to overlooked confronts yet struggled against the Falcons within this department. The Falcons do with 235 lawns after the catch, their very most in a game considering that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).