BYU report card

GRADE A

Offense

Curtis Brown rushes for 219 yards, John Beck passes for 383, and the Cougars post eight touchdowns, 683 total yards and — think back to the TCU loss — sustained late-game drives to counter the opposition's scoring. Although Brown said the Cougars left points on the field, we won't dock them.

GRADE C

Defense

For 44 minutes, the defense looks stellar — holding the Falcons to seven points and limited offensive production. Then the final 16 minutes and five AFA scores — but BYU's special-team gaffes led to two of those touchdowns. The Cougars did pick off three passes after just one interception coming into the game.

GRADE D

Special teams

Kicker Jared McLaughlin was 2-of-3 on field goals (missing a 46-yarder just after offsetting penalties erased a make on the previous play). But lots of lowlights — a blocked punt for a TD, a 28-yard punt, several long Falcon kickoff returns and a couple of mishandles on Cougar kick returns, including a costly fourth-quarter fumble.

GRADE B-

Overall

On a day when a high-octane offense compensated for a hot-and-cold defensive stand and problematic special-teams play, the Cougars were content to take a win any way they could. But if the ground-minded Falcons can succeed by taking to the air, you know what future opponents will be looking to do.