.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily follow him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually covered the team given that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons as well as Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers created very early that Thursday night's activity will be actually a repulsive slugfest along with both crews scoring goals on their 1st things, so it seemed proper the NFC South showdown would be actually determined through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his fourth touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gone 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 ran out in policy pushed overtime, and also Relatives dealt with the rest as he specified a franchise business file along with 509 passing gardens to lift Atlanta (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins marked his fifth consent passing touchdown in the last min of regulation/OT in the final 5 times, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, between succeeding a department as well as certainly not, hinges on games enjoy this one, and also Atlanta possesses already possessed its allotment of them.The Falcons have tracked within the final min of the 4th quarter in each 3 of their success this season. They are actually the first string in NFL past history to possess 3 triumphes within their initial 5 activities of a time through which they routed in the last minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic back-to-back wins over New Orleans and Tampa Gulf, Atlanta georgia has a very early top in the NFC South due to tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could verify crucial in December and also January in what appears to be a strict division.QB failure: Cousins looked well-balanced and back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand contract to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 goals as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 yards and also 3 goals in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be prevalent when he experiences Tampa bay Bay-- 3 of his 4 profession 100-yard activities have actually arrived against the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He also grabbed his first goal versus Tampa fl Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney remains to look more like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his last two times along with the Bears. He possessed his very first game along with various touchdown catches-- in 2021 he had an activity along with a hurrying and also getting goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 gardens are both close to occupation highs for him. He did have 2 drops, however, consisting of one that could have confirmed costly.Most unusual efficiency: A week after certainly not recording a pass against New Orleans, tight end Kyle Pitts placed in his finest statistical activity in nearly a year, nabbing 7 catches for 88 backyards, once more emerging as aspect of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches and yards are his very most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal reception, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the staff to trump in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa bay succeeding the division the past three years. That rang true Thursday night, with it now being actually a three-team race along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a bunch of players it needs to have to get healthy, and it has 9 days to perform it. The Bucs have to discover how to finish, however, with the offense entirely stymied in the second one-half and also unsatisfactory dealing with on defense.QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 gardens, 3 goals-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the 1st one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, along with all three touchdowns coming against the assault. Mayfield's 11 goals via the 1st five activities are a career best.But after the large very first half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers hardly performed everything in the second one-half with the air, totaling 49 yards.Biggest opening in the game plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve with a shoulder accident, the Falcons routinely made use of K.J. Britt in coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' self defense submitting 550 backyards of total offense. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in regards to skipped tackles but resisted the Falcons in this department. The Falcons finished with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in a video game due to the fact that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).