The Falcons failed this little chess match badly. The situation dictated running the ball to KILL TIME off the clock AND force NE to burn their two remaining timeouts. Getting a first down in that situation would have been gravy but so would have been kicking a FG.
NE offense was not explosive, they had to move the ball methodically down the field thanks to the speed of Atlanta's defense.
If the Falcons had made the FG, I serious doubt NE would have enough time to mount TWO long scoring drives.
Believe it is so, even if it ain't so, until it becomes so!