The call to pass on 3rd and 1 with a 16 point lead and the call to pass on 2nd and long in FG range with an 8 point lead...change either of those and Falcons are champs.
Its unfathomable. Almost like it was scripted. They were able to run the ball all game.
I'm as aggressive as anybody when it comes to suggesting that coaches try to get their kickers in better field goal range in lieu of settling for 50-plus-yard field goal tries, but if there was ever a situation that called for conservatism given the game situation, it was this one. Shanahan admitted after the game that he couldn't remember the playcalling decisions he made at this point of the game, conflating the ensuing plays with the sack, which is fair. It seems the entire Falcons team blacked out right around this point of the game.
Honestly, they still could have ended up stuffed on the 3rd and 1 (though it would have helped to have given New England a longer field). The unfathomable part's more the two downs of passing on 2nd and 11 and 3rd down at the NE 23 when up by 8 with 3:56 left in the game.
From one of the ESPN writers:
What happened at that moment essentially may be Atlanta fans' "Bill Buckner" moment, as far as down the road goes.