.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can observe him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has dealt with the group considering that 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons as well as Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers created very early that Thursday evening's activity would be a repulsive slugfest with both staffs scoring goals on their 1st things, so it seemed suitable the NFC South showdown would certainly be actually determined through a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his 4th touchdown of the game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually entered the competition after a trauma to Drake London, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time expired in requirement compelled overtime, as well as Relatives handled the remainder as he specified a franchise business document along with 509 passing yards to remove Atlanta (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins scratched his fifth consent passing touchdown in the last moment of regulation/OT in the final five periods, which is one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between creating the playoffs and not, in between gaining a division and also not, lies in activities like this one, as well as Atlanta georgia possesses already had its share of them.The Falcons have actually routed within the ultimate minute of the fourth one-fourth with all three of their success this period. They are actually the first string in NFL background to have three success within their initial 5 video games of a period in which they tracked in the final moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with impressive next wins over New Orleans and also Tampa Fl Gulf, Atlanta ga possesses an early lead in the NFC South with the help of tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That might confirm crucial in December as well as January in what appears to be a tight division.QB failure: Cousins appeared healthy as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually thrown for 350 lawns and also 3 goals in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be actually dominant when he faces Tampa florida Gulf-- three of his 4 profession 100-yard video games have come versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally picked up his 1st goal versus Tampa florida Bay in the first quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney remains to appear more like the receiver he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two periods along with the Bears. He possessed his first video game with several touchdown catches-- in 2021 he had a video game with a hurrying and getting goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 gardens are actually each close to career highs for him. He did have two decreases, however, including one that could possibly have confirmed costly.Most astonishing performance: A week after certainly not catching an elapsed versus New Orleans, tight conclusion Kyle Pitts placed in his greatest statistical video game in almost a year, taking hold of 7 catches for 88 yards, once more becoming aspect of Atlanta's outburst. His catches and also yards are his very most since Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans marked his 99th goal reception, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the group to trump in the NFC South, despite Tampa fl gaining the department recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, with it presently being actually a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a great deal of gamers it needs to obtain healthy, as well as it has nine times to do it. The Bucs need to know exactly how to finish, however, along with the offense completely prevented in the 2nd one-half as well as inadequate dealing with on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 lawns, three goals-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st one-half, with all 3 touchdowns coming against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals with the 1st five activities are a career best.But after the significant 1st half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers barely performed everything in the 2nd half with the air, totting 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategy: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve with a shoulder injury, the Falcons routinely made use of K.J. Britt in coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 backyards of complete injustice. It took an advance recently against the Eagles in relations to missed out on attacks but resisted the Falcons within this team. The Falcons completed with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in a game given that Week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).