In an NFL prime-time show display, in a substantial divisional face-off, in a shootout with a red-hot quarterback, Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield shined.
Kirk Cousins, his Atlanta equivalent, was brighter.
The previous Oklahoma quarterback finished 19-of-24 passes for 180 lawns and 3 first-half goal passes, however the Bucs defense could not stand up to Cousins' profession offensive outburst.
Cousins finished 42-of-58 passes for 509 lawns and 4 goals in the Falcons' 36-30 overtime success on Thursday night in Atlanta's Mercedes Benz Stadium.
Cousins' toss over the middle to KhaDarel Hodge at the start of overtime divided the Tampa defense and went 45 backyards for a walk-off goal.
Cousins had 2 ownerships in the last 3 minutes of policy thanks to a Bucs fumble. He was obstructed on the very first one, however Tampa could not get an initially down. That offered Cousins another possibility, and he directed a drive that led to Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket to require overtime.
Tampa Bay was up to 3-2 on the season and 0-1 in NFC South Division play, while Atlanta enhanced to 3-2 and 2-0.
Mayfield led a basket drive early in the 4th quarter to break a 27-27 tie. Mayfield struck Mike Evans for 13 backyards, then rushed out of bounds for an 18-yard gain, then prevented a third-down sack to get 3 backyards and established Chase McLaughlin's 53-yard basket that made it 30-27 with 10:23 to play.
The Falcons attempted to connect it with a 54-yard basket, however the kick was obstructed, leaving the Bucs with a 3-point lead and 6:29 left on the clock.
Koo's basket midway through the 3rd quarter cut Tampa's result in 24-20, however Mayfield led the Bucs on a basket drive of his own by finishing 3-of-3 passes for 37 lawns and including a 9-yard scramble.
The drive ended when Mayfield was sacked on third-and-3 from the 7 and appeared to suffer a small injury to his best leg. Mayfield did stroll off the field without help and the Bucs medical group right away started examining his injury, although Mayfield didn't miss out on any snaps.
Mayfield had a wonderful very first half as he staked the Bucs to a 24-17 halftime lead.
Mayfield tossed 3 goal passes in the very first half– 2 to Evans and one to his old OU colleague, Sterling Shepard– and finished 12-of-15 tosses for 131 backyards.
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— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 4, 2024
After the Falcons took a 7-0 lead on their opening ownership, Mayfield and the Bucs reacted instantly. He fired a pass to Evans for 15 lawns, then on third-and-5 struck Evans for a 9-yard pass throughout the middle. On third-and-9, Mayfield linked on a screen pass to tight end Cade Otton, who acquired 15 lawns. On very first and objective from the 2,
