.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has covered the crew because 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and also Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers developed very early that Thursday evening's game will be a repulsive slugfest with both teams scoring touchdowns on their very first possessions, so it seemed proper the NFC South face-off would certainly be made a decision by a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th goal of the game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually gotten into the contest after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ended in policy obliged overtime, and also Relatives took care of the remainder as he set a franchise document along with 509 passing yards to remove Atlanta (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his fifth consent passing goal in the last moment of regulation/OT in the last five periods, which is the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction in between making the playoffs and not, between winning a division as well as certainly not, depends on activities similar to this one, and Atlanta has presently possessed its share of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the final min of the fourth one-fourth in every 3 of their wins this time. They are the first string in NFL past history to possess three victories within their 1st 5 video games of a season in which they tracked in the final moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable next wins over New Orleans and Tampa Gulf, Atlanta ga possesses a very early lead in the NFC South thanks to tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could show pivotal in December and also January in what appears to be a tight division.QB break down: Relatives appeared healthy and balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 gardens, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has thrown for 350 lawns as well as three goals in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be actually leading when he encounters Tampa fl Bay-- three of his 4 job 100-yard video games have actually come versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally got his initial goal versus Tampa florida Bay in the initial quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look even more like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two seasons with the Bears. He had his 1st video game with various touchdown catches-- in 2021 he had a game along with a hurrying and also acquiring touchdown-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 backyards are actually both near to occupation highs for him. He carried out have 2 reduces, however, including one that could possibly possess verified costly.Most unexpected functionality: A week after not recording a pass versus New Orleans, limited conclusion Kyle Pitts put in his finest statistical game in nearly a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more emerging as aspect of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches and lawns are his most because Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown celebration, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the crew to beat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa florida winning the department recent three years. That proved out Thursday night, along with it now being a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a ton of gamers it needs to have to get healthy, as well as it has 9 times to do it. The Bucs need to discover exactly how to finish, though, with the offense totally prevented in the second half and also poor tackling on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, three touchdowns-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the 1st fifty percent. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial fifty percent, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving against the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the initial five games are a career best.But after the big initial half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers hardly performed just about anything in the second one-half via the air, totaling 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategic plan: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons repeatedly capitalized on K.J. Britt in coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 yards of total offense. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in relations to missed out on confronts yet resisted the Falcons in this department. The Falcons do with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in a video game since Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).