Kirk Cousins tops 500 passing yards, leads Falcons previous Bucs

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday evening’s sport 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 cross.

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

Younghoe Koo‘s 52-yard subject objective as time expired in regulation pressured additional time, and Cousins took care of the remainder as he set a profession passing mark with 509 yards to carry Atlanta (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.

Atlanta Falcons

The distinction between making the playoffs and never, of successful a division and never, are in video games like Thursday.

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 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 is thrown for 350 yards and three touchdowns in a prime-time sport, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, in keeping 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 in opposition to the Buccaneers, together with Thursday’s 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally picked up his first-ever landing in opposition to Tampa Bay within the first quarter.

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

Most stunning efficiency: Per week after not catching a cross in opposition to New Orleans, tight finish Kyle Pitts put in his finest statistical sport 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 probably the most since Oct. 8, 2023 in opposition to Houston, when Pitts had seven catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 targets. — Michael Rothstein

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

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

All summer season lengthy, the Bucs heard the Falcons had been the group to beat within the NFC South, regardless of Tampa successful the division the final 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 numerous gamers it must get wholesome, and it has 9 days to do it.

QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 passes for 129 passing yards, three touchdowns — two to huge receiver Mike Evans — and no interceptions within the first half. He was blitzed on seven of 15 drop-backs (47%) within the first half, with all three touchdowns coming in opposition to the blitz. Mayfield’s 11 touchdowns by way of the primary 5 video games are a profession finest.

Greatest gap within the sport plan: With Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve with a shoulder damage, the Falcons routinely exploited K.J. Britt in protection. He surrendered an 18-yard landing to huge receiver Drake London on the opening drive.

Stunning efficiency: The Bucs’ protection surrendering 550 yards of whole offense. They took a step ahead final week in opposition to the Eagles by way of missed tackles, however struggled in opposition to the Falcons on this division, surrendering 87 whole yards after contact — 34 on rushes and 53 on receptions – per ESPN Analysis. — Jenna Laine

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