The way I saw that game, the Falcons arrived super fired up and energized. After they landed some great body blows and it looked like the game could easily get out of hand, they bought into their own exultation way too early. As the Pats relentlessly kept on coming and started closing in, Atlanta had already punched themselves out and could not regain their initial warp speed. They must not have listened to the part about "playing for 60 minutes." IMO, that was NE's trump card: they came ready to tough it out for the entire time. Atlanta was already sending themselves congratulatory selfies before the last bell rung. Gotta play the entire game guys, not just until you start smelling a rout. Turned out, that wasn't what they were smelling.
And sooooooooo sweet to watch B&B essentially ignore Der Komish as they all stood around on the podium.
Was it all worth it? Yes.
Patty* +1
