Exactly.
The model of screwing around for 3 quarters trying to feint and jab, but not really landing any punches - screwed us.
Because in the 4th quarter we really did not get the ball back that much, a few bad calls happened (and they do). If you leave yourself in a position for someone to make a mistake and that keeps you from winning? Well, refs and coaches are people that make mistakes too, so you assured that one fumble or bad call wins the game for the other guy.
Of course, a fumble when up by 14? Not as much an issue.
I don't think that our OC purposely avoids trying for 3 quarters, I think he comes in with a gameplan, tries to force it for 3 quarters, does minor adjustments and then when it does not work - goes into panic mode and starts focusing on doing what is necessary to get in the EZ. By then, however, it is often too late or like yesterday easily derailed.
Watch a game where we get behind a few scores, scrap our gameplan and then come roaring back to see what I mean.
Either way, failing on a final drive because we could not bother to succeed beforehand is more on the coaching staff and less on the one guy trying to make the first down to offset our OC's idiocy.