.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You may follow him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel 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 team since 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons as well as Tampa Gulf Buccaneers developed early that Thursday night's video game would be actually an offensive slugfest with both groups racking up goals on their 1st belongings, so it seemed fitting the NFC South face-off would certainly be actually decided by a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his 4th goal of the activity, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gone into the contest after an injury to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time expired in law compelled overtime, as well as Cousins cared for the remainder as he established a franchise business report with 509 passing lawns to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his fifth okay passing goal in the final min of regulation/OT in the last 5 seasons, which is the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between creating the playoffs as well as certainly not, between gaining a branch and also not, lies in games enjoy this one, and also Atlanta georgia possesses actually had its own allotment of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the ultimate min of the 4th quarter with all 3 of their triumphes this season. They are actually the first string in NFL past to possess 3 victories within their 1st 5 video games of a time in which they tracked in the last min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with significant back-to-back gain New Orleans and Tampa Bay, Atlanta georgia possesses a very early top in the NFC South with the help of sudden deaths over the Saints and Buccaneers. That might verify essential in December as well as January in what seems a limited division.QB break down: Relatives appeared well-balanced and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million agreement to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 lawns and also three goals in a prime-time activity, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be actually dominant when he deals with Tampa fl Gulf-- 3 of his four occupation 100-yard video games have come versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally picked up his initial goal versus Tampa florida Bay in the first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to appear even more like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his last pair of periods along with the Bears. He possessed his very first game along with numerous touchdown finds-- in 2021 he had an activity along with a rushing as well as getting touchdown-- and his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually both near career highs for him. He did possess pair of decreases, nonetheless, featuring one that could possess shown costly.Most shocking functionality: A week after certainly not capturing an elapsed versus New Orleans, tight side Kyle Pitts placed in his absolute best analytical game in virtually a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 backyards, once more becoming component of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches as well as gardens are his very most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 lawns 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 celebration, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the staff to defeat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa bay gaining the division recent three years. That rang true Thursday evening, from it today being actually a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a great deal of players it requires to get healthy, as well as it possesses 9 times to do it. The Bucs need to learn just how to complete, however, with the injustice fully prevented in the 2nd one-half and inadequate tackling on defense.QB malfunction: Baker Mayfield accomplished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 backyards, three touchdowns-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the very first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first fifty percent, along with all three touchdowns coming versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns through the 1st 5 games are a career best.But after the big very first half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers hardly did anything in the 2nd fifty percent by means of the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategic plan: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons regularly capitalized on K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 backyards of total affront. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in relations to overlooked confronts however struggled against the Falcons in this particular team. The Falcons do with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in a video game given that Full week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).