.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You may follow him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has dealt with the crew since 2009. Comply With Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers developed very early that Thursday evening's activity would certainly be an objectionable slugfest along with both crews racking up goals on their first belongings, so it appeared suitable the NFC South face-off will be actually decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gone into the contest after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity ended in regulation pushed overtime, and Cousins cared for the remainder as he specified a franchise business document along with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his 5th permission passing touchdown in the last minute of regulation/OT in the last 5 periods, which is the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between creating the playoffs as well as certainly not, in between succeeding a department and not, depends on video games enjoy this one, and Atlanta possesses actually had its portion of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the last minute of the 4th one-fourth in all 3 of their success this season. They are the first team in NFL background to have 3 wins within their very first five activities of a season in which they tracked in the final minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with remarkable next get New Orleans and Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta ga possesses a very early lead in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That might prove essential in December as well as January in what looks a strict division.QB break down: Relatives looked healthy and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 million arrangement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 gardens, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has tossed for 350 yards as well as 3 goals in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be prevalent when he deals with Tampa bay Bay-- 3 of his four job 100-yard activities have arrived against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally picked up his very first touchdown against Tampa florida Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his last two times with the Bears. He possessed his 1st activity along with various touchdown sees-- in 2021 he possessed an activity with a rushing as well as obtaining goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 gardens are actually each close to career highs for him. He did possess two reduces, nonetheless, consisting of one that could possibly possess confirmed costly.Most shocking functionality: A week after not capturing an elapsed versus New Orleans, limited conclusion Kyle Pitts put in his greatest analytical activity in just about a year, getting 7 catches for 88 lawns, once again becoming component of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches and also backyards are his very most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal celebration, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the crew to beat in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa fl winning the branch the past 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, along with it now being actually a three-team race along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a great deal of players it needs to have to get well-balanced, and it possesses nine times to carry out it. The Bucs must know how to end up, though, along with the offense totally obstructed in the second one-half and also inadequate dealing with on defense.QB malfunction: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, three goals-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the very first fifty percent. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st one-half, with all 3 touchdowns coming versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the 1st five activities are a profession best.But after the major initial half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely did anything in the second half with the sky, totaling 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategic plan: Along with Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reservoir with a shoulder injury, the Falcons routinely manipulated K.J. Britt in protection. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' protection relinquishing 550 backyards of total injustice. It took a progression recently versus the Eagles in relations to missed out on confronts but struggled against the Falcons in this team. The Falcons completed with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in a game since Full week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).