According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Falcons head coach, Mike Smith, stands by the teams decision to go for the touchdown against the stingy Jets defense instead of kicking the short field goal.
“We felt like we needed to score a touchdown in that situation. We felt like we had an opportunity to do
it and we didn’t get it done. In hindsight, it is probably not the way we wanted it to work out, but that is
the decision that we made.”
In hindsight, had the Falcons converted a field goal attempt, the Jets would have had to score a touchdown on the final possession instead of the field goal. The Falcons defense should also be to blame for giving up big play after big play on that final drive.