.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You may follow him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has dealt with the group given that 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa Bay Buccaneers developed early that Thursday evening's video game will be actually an offensive slugfest with both staffs scoring touchdowns on their initial properties, so it appeared suitable the NFC South showdown would certainly be actually chosen by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th touchdown of the game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had entered into the contest after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity ran out in policy obliged overtime, and Relatives dealt with the rest as he established a franchise record with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta (3-2) right into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his fifth go-ahead passing goal in the last minute of regulation/OT in the last five periods, which is the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between creating the playoffs and not, between winning a division and also not, lies in games similar to this one, and Atlanta georgia possesses presently had its reveal of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the last min of the fourth quarter with all 3 of their triumphes this season. They are actually the first team in NFL history to have 3 success within their first 5 games of a season through which they tracked in the last min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with remarkable back-to-back get New Orleans and Tampa Gulf, Atlanta ga has a very early top in the NFC South due to sudden deaths over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That can prove critical in December and also January in what seems a tight division.QB malfunction: Relatives looked healthy as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has tossed for 350 backyards and also 3 touchdowns 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 remains to be prevalent when he experiences Tampa fl Gulf-- 3 of his four job 100-yard activities have actually come versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He likewise picked up his very first goal versus Tampa bay Gulf in the initial quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney continues to appear even more like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two periods along with the Bears. He had his initial video game along with numerous goal gets-- in 2021 he possessed a video game along with a hurrying and also getting goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 backyards are each close to profession highs for him. He carried out possess pair of drops, nonetheless, including one that could possess shown costly.Most shocking efficiency: A week after not catching a pass against New Orleans, strict end Kyle Pitts placed in his ideal statistical activity in almost a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 backyards, once more becoming portion of Atlanta's offense. His catches as well as gardens are his most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown event, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the staff to trump in the NFC South, despite Tampa fl succeeding the branch recent three years. That rang true Thursday evening, with it presently being actually a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a considerable amount of gamers it needs to have to receive healthy and balanced, and also it has nine days to perform it. The Bucs have to learn how to end up, however, with the injustice totally obstructed in the second one-half and also poor tackling on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 passes for 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- 2 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, with all three touchdowns coming against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals through the 1st five video games are actually a job best.But after the big initial one-half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers hardly performed just about anything in the 2nd one-half via the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategy: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reservoir along with a shoulder accident, the Falcons consistently manipulated K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' self defense surrendering 550 lawns of overall affront. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in terms of missed out on confronts however resisted the Falcons in this particular division. The Falcons finished with 235 backyards after the catch, their very most in a game since Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).