The way I see it was they had to pass to save their one time out. If they ran and didnt get in however unlikely that was, they would need to burn their last time out with under 20 seconds left. Only enough time to get off one more play. By passing it was either a TD or an incompletion one ends the game, the other stops the clock and saves you your one time out for 2 plays.
So if they ran the ball on 2nd down and didnt get in. TO. Run the ball again and dont get in, they cant stop the clock and they lose. Lynch was 1 for 5 from the line on the season. The smart play was to pass on 2nd down saving your TO for the one or two run plays to follow since only a TD would stop the clock.
The defensive player made a better play, just like Harrison on the Steelers jumped that route against the cards a few years back and ran it back for a TD before half time.
So thats my two cents. It was actually the smart play just the defensive guy was more ready for it than the Hawks player was.
Jason

