.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You may observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has covered the crew considering that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa Gulf Buccaneers established early that Thursday evening's game will be an offensive slugfest with both teams scoring goals on their first ownerships, so it seemed to be fitting the NFC South showdown would be actually determined by a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth goal of the video game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had entered into the competition after a trauma to Drake London, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time ended in policy compelled overtime, and Cousins handled the remainder as he prepared a franchise file with 509 passing yards to remove Atlanta (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his fifth go-ahead passing goal in the final minute of regulation/OT in the final 5 seasons, which is the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between making the playoffs and certainly not, between winning a department and also not, depends on games enjoy this one, and Atlanta georgia possesses already possessed its own portion of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the last min of the fourth quarter in each three of their success this season. They are the first string in NFL background to have three wins within their first 5 activities of a time through which they routed in the ultimate moment of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic back-to-back sway New Orleans as well as Tampa Bay Gulf, Atlanta ga has an early top in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That might confirm crucial in December as well as January in what seems a strict division.QB break down: Relatives looked well-balanced and back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 gardens as well as three goals in a prime-time activity, matching Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be prevalent when he experiences Tampa florida Bay-- 3 of his four job 100-yard video games have arrived against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally grabbed his 1st goal versus Tampa Gulf in the first quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney continues to look additional like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two periods with the Bears. He possessed his first game along with various goal sees-- in 2021 he possessed an activity with a hurrying and getting goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually each near career highs for him. He carried out possess 2 reduces, nonetheless, consisting of one that could have confirmed costly.Most shocking efficiency: A week after certainly not catching an elapsed versus New Orleans, tight side Kyle Pitts invested his absolute best analytical activity in practically a year, snatching 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more emerging as aspect of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches and yards are his most since Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal function, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the crew to defeat in the NFC South, even with Tampa bay winning the branch the past 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, from it now being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a great deal of players it needs to have to obtain well-balanced, as well as it has nine times to do it. The Bucs have to know how to finish, however, along with the offense fully obstructed in the second half and also inadequate addressing on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield accomplished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 yards, three touchdowns-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the initial fifty percent. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st one-half, with all three touchdowns coming against the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals by means of the first 5 activities are an occupation best.But after the large initial half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely carried out just about anything in the second fifty percent through the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategy: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reservoir with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons repeatedly made use of K.J. Britt in protection. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection submitting 550 gardens of complete injustice. It took an advance last week versus the Eagles in relations to overlooked tackles but struggled against the Falcons in this team. The Falcons finished with 235 backyards after the catch, their very most in a video game due to the fact that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).