.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can easily observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has actually dealt with the crew due to the fact that 2009. Comply With Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday evening's activity would be actually an annoying slugfest along with both crews scoring touchdowns on their very first properties, so it seemed suitable the NFC South face-off will be actually chosen by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his fourth goal of the activity, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gotten in the contest after an injury to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ended in guideline compelled overtime, and also Relatives handled the rest as he set a franchise business file with 509 passing lawns to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth go-ahead passing touchdown in the final moment of regulation/OT in the final 5 periods, which is the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, between gaining a division and also not, depends on video games like this one, as well as Atlanta possesses actually possessed its allotment of them.The Falcons have trailed within the ultimate minute of the fourth one-fourth in all 3 of their victories this season. They are actually the first string in NFL record to possess three success within their first five games of a period through which they routed in the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with significant next draw New Orleans and also Tampa Gulf, Atlanta ga possesses a very early lead in the NFC South with the help of sudden deaths over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could possibly confirm critical in December as well as January in what appears to be a limited division.QB breakdown: Relatives looked well-balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has tossed for 350 yards and also 3 goals in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be actually dominant when he deals with Tampa florida Bay-- three of his four career 100-yard games have come against the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He additionally got his initial goal against Tampa Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of times along with the Bears. He possessed his first game with numerous goal gets-- in 2021 he possessed a game with a rushing as well as getting touchdown-- and his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually each close to job highs for him. He carried out possess 2 reduces, nevertheless, featuring one that might possess verified costly.Most shocking functionality: A week after not catching a pass against New Orleans, limited conclusion Kyle Pitts placed in his ideal analytical game in nearly a year, getting hold of 7 catches for 88 yards, once more becoming aspect of Atlanta georgia's offense. His catches and yards are his very most given that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown event, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the group to trump in the NFC South, even with Tampa fl gaining the department recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, with it right now being a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a great deal of players it needs to have to obtain healthy, as well as it possesses nine days to do it. The Bucs have to know how to complete, though, with the injustice entirely put on hold in the 2nd half and also unsatisfactory tackling on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 passes for 131 yards, three goals-- 2 to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st half, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals by means of the very first 5 games are a career best.But after the big very first half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers rarely performed just about anything in the 2nd half via the sky, totaling 49 yards.Biggest opening in the game plan: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, the Falcons regularly manipulated K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He submitted an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 gardens of overall affront. It took an advance recently versus the Eagles in relations to missed out on tackles but struggled against the Falcons within this team. The Falcons completed with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in an activity considering that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).