Kirk Cousins, Falcons beat Bucs in overtime

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday evening’s recreation could be an offensive slugfest with each groups scoring touchdowns on their first possessions, so it appeared becoming the NFC South showdown could be determined by a protracted TD go.

Kirk Cousins threw his fourth landing of the sport, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had entered the competition after an harm to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 time beyond regulation victory.

Younghoe Koo’s 52-yard area aim as time expired in regulation pressured time beyond regulation, and Cousins took care of the remainder as he set a franchise report with 509 passing yards to elevate Atlanta (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.

Atlanta Falcons

The distinction between making the playoffs and never, between profitable a division and never, lies in video games like this one, and Atlanta has already had its share of them.

The Falcons have trailed throughout the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter in all three of their wins this season. They’re the primary workforce in NFL historical past to have three wins inside their first 5 video games of a season during which they trailed within the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter.

At 3-2, with dramatic back-to-back wins over New Orleans and Tampa Bay, Atlanta has an early lead within the NFC South due to tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That would show pivotal in December and January in what seems to be a good division.

QB breakdown: Cousins regarded wholesome and again to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million contract to within the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.

It is the sixth time he has thrown for 350 yards and three touchdowns in a prime-time recreation, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, in accordance with ESPN Analysis.

Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be dominant when he faces Tampa Bay — three of his 4 profession 100-yard video games have come towards the Buccaneers, together with Thursday’s 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally picked up his first landing towards Tampa Bay within the first quarter.

Promising development: Darnell Mooney continues to look extra just like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two seasons with the Bears. He had his first recreation with a number of landing catches — in 2021 he had a recreation with a speeding and receiving landing — and his 9 catches for 105 yards are each near profession highs for him. He did have two drops, nonetheless, together with one that would have proved pricey.

Most shocking efficiency: Per week after not catching a go towards New Orleans, tight finish Kyle Pitts put in his finest statistical recreation in virtually a yr, grabbing 7 catches for 88 yards, as soon as once more rising as a part of Atlanta’s offense. His catches and yards are his most since Oct. 8, 2023, towards Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 targets. — Michael Rothstein

Subsequent recreation: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

All summer time lengthy, the Bucs heard the Falcons have been the workforce to beat within the NFC South, regardless of Tampa profitable the division the previous three years. That rang true Thursday evening, with it now being a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans subsequent.

Tampa Bay has quite a lot of gamers it must get wholesome, and it has 9 days to do it. The Bucs need to learn to end, although, with the offense fully stymied within the second half and poor tackling on protection.

QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 passes for 131 yards, three touchdowns — two to broad receiver Mike Evans — and no interceptions within the first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) within the first half, with all three touchdowns coming towards the blitz. Mayfield’s 11 touchdowns by means of the primary 5 video games are a profession finest.

However after the massive first half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly did something within the second half by means of the air, totaling 49 yards.

Largest gap within the recreation plan: With Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve with a shoulder harm, the Falcons routinely exploited Ok.J. Britt in protection. He surrendered an 18-yard landing to broad receiver Drake London on the opening drive.

Shocking efficiency: The Bucs’ protection surrendering 550 yards of whole offense. It took a step ahead final week towards the Eagles by way of missed tackles however struggled towards the Falcons on this division. The Falcons completed with 235 yards after the catch, their most in a recreation since Week 8 of 2019 towards Seattle (236). — Jenna Laine

Subsequent recreation: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13)