.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You may observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has covered the crew because 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and also Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers developed early that Thursday evening's video game would be an offending slugfest with both crews racking up touchdowns on their very first belongings, so it seemed suitable the NFC South showdown would certainly be chosen through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his 4th touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had entered the contest after an injury to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time ran out in requirement required overtime, and Cousins took care of the remainder as he established a franchise business record along with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins scratched his 5th green light passing goal in the ultimate minute of regulation/OT in the last 5 seasons, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between making the playoffs and certainly not, in between gaining a department and also certainly not, lies in video games such as this one, and Atlanta ga possesses presently possessed its allotment of them.The Falcons have routed within the ultimate moment of the fourth one-fourth in every 3 of their success this time. They are the first string in NFL history to have three victories within their very first five activities of a season through which they routed in the final minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with dramatic back-to-back gain New Orleans and Tampa Florida Bay, Atlanta ga has a very early top in the NFC South with the help of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could possibly verify essential in December as well as January in what seems a tight division.QB break down: Relatives appeared healthy and balanced and back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 lawns, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 yards as well as 3 goals in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be actually dominant when he faces Tampa florida Bay-- 3 of his 4 job 100-yard activities have come versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise grabbed his first touchdown against Tampa fl Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look additional like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate 2 seasons along with the Bears. He possessed his 1st game with various touchdown gets-- in 2021 he possessed an activity with a rushing as well as obtaining touchdown-- and his 9 catches for 105 backyards are actually each near to job highs for him. He performed have two reduces, having said that, consisting of one that might have shown costly.Most surprising functionality: A week after not recording a successfully pass against New Orleans, strict end Kyle Pitts placed in his ideal statistical video game in practically a year, getting 7 catches for 88 yards, once again becoming aspect of Atlanta georgia's offense. His catches and gardens 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 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown event, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the staff to defeat in the NFC South, even with Tampa bay winning the branch the past 3 years. That proved out Thursday night, along with it today being actually a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a considerable amount of gamers it requires to acquire healthy and balanced, as well as it has 9 times to perform it. The Bucs need to discover how to end up, however, along with the injustice totally obstructed in the 2nd one-half as well as poor handling on defense.QB break down: Cook Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 yards, 3 goals-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial one-half, with all 3 touchdowns coming against the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns through the very first five games are a job best.But after the major very first one-half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly performed just about anything in the second fifty percent via the air, completing 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategy: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reservoir along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons repeatedly made use of K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 lawns of overall affront. It took an advance recently against the Eagles in relations to missed out on confronts yet resisted the Falcons in this particular division. The Falcons completed with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in a video game considering that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).