.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can follow him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has actually dealt with the crew since 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers developed very early that Thursday night's video game will be an annoying slugfest along with both staffs scoring touchdowns on their initial possessions, so it appeared proper the NFC South face-off would certainly be decided by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his 4th goal of the game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually entered the contest after a personal injury to Drake London, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time ended in guideline forced overtime, and Cousins dealt with the rest as he specified a franchise business file with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) in to a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his fifth green light passing touchdown in the final moment of regulation/OT in the final five seasons, which is actually the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, between winning a branch and also certainly not, lies in activities enjoy this one, and also Atlanta has actually possessed its own portion of them.The Falcons have tracked within the last moment of the 4th one-fourth with all three of their victories this season. They are actually the first string in NFL record to possess 3 victories within their very first five activities of a period through which they tracked in the final minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable back-to-back get New Orleans and Tampa Florida Bay, Atlanta possesses a very early top in the NFC South thanks to tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That can prove essential in December as well as January in what seems a limited division.QB breakdown: Cousins appeared well-balanced and back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million contract to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has tossed for 350 gardens and also three goals in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be dominant when he encounters Tampa florida Bay-- 3 of his four occupation 100-yard games have come against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He likewise got his first goal against Tampa Gulf in the first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to look even more like the recipient he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of times with the Bears. He possessed his first game along with multiple touchdown gets-- in 2021 he had a video game with a hurrying and also getting goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually each near to job highs for him. He carried out have two reduces, however, featuring one that might possess shown costly.Most unexpected performance: A full week after certainly not recording an elapsed against New Orleans, tight conclusion Kyle Pitts put in his greatest analytical video game in almost a year, getting 7 catches for 88 yards, once more becoming component of Atlanta's offense. His catches as well as yards are his 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. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal celebration, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the crew to beat in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa bay succeeding the branch recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, along with it right now being a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a considerable amount of gamers it needs to acquire healthy, as well as it has 9 times to carry out it. The Bucs must learn exactly how to end up, however, along with the affront completely stymied in the second fifty percent and also poor dealing with on defense.QB malfunction: Baker Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 yards, 3 touchdowns-- 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 initial half, with all three touchdowns arriving versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the 1st 5 video games are a profession best.But after the huge first one-half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers barely performed everything in the second one-half by means of the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategy: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve with a shoulder injury, the Falcons routinely manipulated K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 backyards of complete affront. It took an advance last week versus the Eagles in terms of skipped tackles however resisted the Falcons in this team. The Falcons finished with 235 yards after the catch, their most in an activity because Week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).