.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can easily follow him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has dealt with the staff considering that 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and also Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers set up early that Thursday evening's video game would certainly be actually a repulsive slugfest along with both groups scoring goals on their first belongings, so it seemed proper the NFC South face-off would certainly be decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth goal of the game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually entered the competition after an injury to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ran out in guideline pushed overtime, and Cousins dealt with the remainder as he established a franchise business file along with 509 passing yards to remove Atlanta (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins marked his 5th go-ahead passing goal in the ultimate minute of regulation/OT in the last five times, which is actually the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between making the playoffs as well as not, in between succeeding a branch and certainly not, depends on video games like this one, as well as Atlanta georgia possesses currently had its own share of them.The Falcons have actually routed within the last min of the fourth quarter in each three of their triumphes this period. They are actually the first team in NFL record to possess three victories within their first 5 activities of a time through which they trailed in the final min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with significant back-to-back sway New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta georgia has a very early top in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could possibly prove critical in December as well as January in what appears to be a limited division.QB breakdown: Relatives looked well-balanced and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 lawns, 4 goals and 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 yards and also three touchdowns in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be actually leading when he deals with Tampa Bay-- 3 of his 4 job 100-yard activities have actually come versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He likewise picked up his first goal versus Tampa fl Bay in the first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his last pair of times along with the Bears. He possessed his 1st video game with multiple goal gets-- in 2021 he had a video game along with a rushing and also obtaining goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually each near profession highs for him. He carried out possess pair of drops, nevertheless, including one that can have confirmed costly.Most shocking performance: A full week after certainly not catching an elapsed versus New Orleans, strict side Kyle Pitts placed in his absolute best analytical video game in nearly a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more emerging as portion of Atlanta's outburst. His catches and also backyards are his very most because Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans marked his 99th touchdown event, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the crew to defeat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa bay winning the division recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday evening, from it today being actually a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a lot of players it needs to have to receive healthy, and it possesses 9 days to do it. The Bucs must know how to complete, though, along with the offense entirely stymied in the 2nd half and also bad handling on defense.QB malfunction: Cook Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 backyards, 3 goals-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the first one-half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first one-half, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 goals via the initial five games are an occupation best.But after the huge initial half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly performed just about anything in the second fifty percent via the air, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategic plan: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reserve along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons routinely capitalized on K.J. Britt in protection. He surrendered an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 backyards of total affront. It took a breakthrough last week versus the Eagles in relations to skipped tackles however struggled against the Falcons in this team. The Falcons finished with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in a video game since Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).