.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has covered the crew given that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday evening's activity will be an annoying slugfest along with both staffs scoring touchdowns on their 1st ownerships, so it seemed fitting the NFC South showdown will be decided by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had entered into the contest after an accident to Drake London, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time expired in regulation obliged overtime, and Cousins took care of the remainder as he set a franchise business file along with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) in to a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins scratched his fifth green light passing goal in the ultimate minute of regulation/OT in the final 5 times, which is actually the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, in between winning a department and not, lies in games like this one, and also Atlanta georgia has already had its own share of them.The Falcons have tracked within the final min of the fourth one-fourth in all 3 of their victories this time. They are the first team in NFL past to possess three wins within their first 5 video games of a period through which they trailed in the final min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with remarkable next wins over New Orleans and also Tampa Fl Gulf, Atlanta georgia possesses a very early top in the NFC South with the help of sudden deaths over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That can prove crucial in December and also January in what appears to be a tight division.QB malfunction: Relatives appeared healthy and back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million contract to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has thrown for 350 lawns and also three touchdowns in a prime-time activity, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be actually dominant when he encounters Tampa florida Gulf-- three of his four occupation 100-yard games have arrived versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He also got his initial goal against Tampa Bay in the 1st quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney continues to look additional like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate pair of times along with the Bears. He had his 1st game along with multiple goal catches-- in 2021 he possessed a video game with a hurrying and also getting goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 backyards are both near career highs for him. He performed possess two decreases, having said that, including one that might have confirmed costly.Most unexpected efficiency: A week after not recording an elapsed against New Orleans, strict side Kyle Pitts put in his ideal statistical game in practically a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more emerging as component of Atlanta georgia's offense. His catches and yards are his very most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal celebration, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the staff to beat in the NFC South, despite Tampa succeeding the branch recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday evening, along with it presently being actually a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a great deal of players it needs to obtain well-balanced, and it has nine days to perform it. The Bucs have to discover how to finish, however, along with the offense totally put on hold in the 2nd half as well as unsatisfactory dealing with on defense.QB break down: Cook Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the 1st half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first one-half, along with all 3 touchdowns coming against the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns through the very first 5 activities are a career best.But after the large very first one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers hardly performed everything in the 2nd fifty percent with the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategy: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve with a shoulder accident, the Falcons repeatedly capitalized on K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' self defense relinquishing 550 gardens of total offense. It took an advance last week versus the Eagles in relations to missed out on attacks however struggled against the Falcons in this department. The Falcons completed with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in a video game because Full week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).