The Atlanta Falcons 30-27 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 11 was another frustrating chapter in a season defined by inconsistency and missed opportunities.
After taking a 21-7 halftime lead and looking like the team fans hoped they could be, Atlanta collapsed in the second half, ultimately giving up the game in overtime due to mistakes on special teams and key offensive drops after seeing star quarterback Michael Penix Jr go down with an injury.
Despite a performance that exposed the Dirty Birds' lingering weaknesses, CBS Sports' John Breech released his Week 11 grades that seemed to reward flashes of promise rather than the disappointing story of the game by giving the Falcons an average "C".
Falcons' strong start overshadowed by second-half collapse
Atlanta looked sharp in the first half, moving the ball efficiently and building a seemingly comfortable 21-7 lead over the Panthers. Fans who had endured multiple seasons of inconsistency may have allowed themselves a moment of optimism. However, the final 30 minutes quickly revealed the Falcons' true state.
Carolina outscored Atlanta 18-6 across the final 32 minutes, tying the game and forcing overtime. Once in OT, Atlanta’s errors — including an ineligible man downfield penalty and another costly drop— handed the win to the Panthers.
Breech's assessment seemed to gloss over these glaring second-half issues, focusing instead on the team’s strong start. While flashes of potential are worth noting, they cannot overshadow a full-game collapse that cost the Falcons a winnable game.
Grades vs Reality: A disconnect
Several factors suggest CBS may have been overly generous:
Inconsistent halves: A strong first half cannot excuse a second-half collapse, which included blown coverage, dropped passes, and offensive stagnation.
Third-down inefficiency: Atlanta converted just 4 of 11 third-down attempts, continuing a season-long struggle that has repeatedly stalled drives.
Injury and quarterback instability: Michael Penix Jr left with a knee injury, leaving backup Kirk Cousins to try to salvage the game. While he performed adequately under pressure, the situation exposed the team’s lack of depth and reliability now that Penix will more than likely be shut down for the season.
Critical mistakes in clutch moments: Error in overtime — including a missed tackles, special team miscue, and drops — ultimately sealed the Falcons fate.
These factors combined to extend Atlanta’s losing streak to five games, dropping their record to 3-7, yet Breech's grade does not seem to fully account for the consequences of these failures.
Why CBS might have graded the Falcons generously
Breech's generous assesment may have stemmed from several considerations:
The Falcons started fast and appeared dominant in the first half.
The defensive front produced key plays, including sacks and pressure that briefly kept Carolina in check
There may have been an emphasis on relative improvement, rewarding incremental progress over absolute performance. While these points provide context, a complete evaluation of the Falcons performance must weigh the entire game, not just fleeting moments of success.
Grades should reflect reality, not optimism. Fans deserve accountability, especially for mistakes that directly cost wins. Until the Falcons can maintain consistent performance across all four quarters, minimize third-down failures, and eliminate critical special-teams mistakes, optimistic grades like CBS’s risk creating a misleading narrative.
Next week’s NFC South matchup against the Saints will test Atlanta’s resilience. To justify the praise from Week 11, the Falcons will need to deliver a full-game performance — something that has been elusive this season. Until then, flashes of promise are not enough to mask systemic problems.