Assuming Eli is telling the truth...This is why Eli is elite.
If he doesn't throw that shot ahead of ODB that first play, where it was overthrown and out of bounds, then the attention of the D doesn't really shift to ODB at all. If he checks down, eats a sack, throws it away but to a different receiver, or any other result...The Falcons D doesn't get rattled and scramble to figure things out.
IMMEDIATELY after that out-of-bounds overthrow in ODB's direction, the WHOLE course of the game changed. Make of that what you want...but just being honest, Eli/Peyton have both been said to have the I.Q. levels of literal rocket scientists, and while Eli's prone to mistakes just like everyone else, his intangibles and intelligence/awareness very often shows up on the field. That play itself might have been the one that changed the game. Other recievers were getting open, the D backed up and opened up for the run game, and ODB STILL catches a TD pass.
Elisha the prophet. Brehs.