The offense wasn't conservative at all though, that's the problem. If they commit to the run the Falcons win. But they were inexplicably (and stupidly) aggressive in situations that didn't call for it. I usually hate the "defense is gassed" excuse but it's legitimate here---the Pats' TOP was basically double the Falcons'. The reality is that the Falcons defense did pretty well to shut the Pats down for 3 quarters, they were going to start scoring eventually. The offense just needed one extra field goal and they didn't deliver. Bottled offense, defense that couldn't come up with ONE more play, total team loss.