.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You can easily observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has actually dealt with the staff considering that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers developed very early that Thursday evening's video game would be actually an offensive slugfest with both crews scoring goals on their very first possessions, so it seemed suitable the NFC South face-off will be actually decided by a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th goal of the activity, a 45-yard score 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 opportunity expired in regulation required overtime, and also Relatives cared for the remainder as he set a franchise business file with 509 passing yards to remove Atlanta georgia (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth go-ahead passing goal in the final min of regulation/OT in the last five periods, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between creating the playoffs and also certainly not, between winning a department and not, lies in games enjoy this one, as well as Atlanta georgia possesses already possessed its portion of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the ultimate minute of the fourth one-fourth in every 3 of their success this time. They are the first string in NFL background to have three victories within their 1st five games of a season in which they trailed in the final min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic next gain New Orleans as well as Tampa Bay Bay, Atlanta possesses a very early lead in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could possibly prove crucial in December and also January in what looks a limited division.QB failure: Relatives looked healthy and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 gardens, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has actually thrown for 350 gardens and 3 goals in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be actually prevalent when he experiences Tampa Bay-- 3 of his 4 job 100-yard games have come versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He also picked up his 1st goal against Tampa Bay in the very first quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney continues to appear even more like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his last two seasons along with the Bears. He possessed his 1st game along with several goal gets-- in 2021 he possessed an activity with a hurrying as well as obtaining goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 gardens are each near profession highs for him. He performed have pair of decreases, nonetheless, including one that might have confirmed costly.Most unusual performance: A week after certainly not capturing an elapsed versus New Orleans, tight end Kyle Pitts placed in his absolute best statistical activity in just about a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 lawns, once again emerging as component of Atlanta's outburst. His catches as well as backyards are his very most considering that 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 notched his 99th goal event, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the staff to defeat in the NFC South, even with Tampa florida succeeding the division recent 3 years. That proved out Thursday night, along with it right now being actually a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a considerable amount of players it needs to have to acquire healthy, as well as it has nine times to accomplish it. The Bucs need to learn just how to complete, though, with the affront fully prevented in the second fifty percent as well as inadequate dealing with on defense.QB malfunction: Cook Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 passes for 131 gardens, 3 goals-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first half, with all three touchdowns arriving against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals via the initial five activities are actually a job best.But after the big very first half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly did just about anything in the second one-half with the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest gap in the tactical plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on wounded reserve with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons consistently exploited K.J. Britt in coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' defense giving up 550 yards of complete injustice. It took a progression recently versus the Eagles in relations to missed tackles but resisted the Falcons in this particular division. The Falcons do with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in a video game since Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).