Yeah, the hustle to the line served two purposes. It definitely forced the Falcons to use their challenge. They really had no choice. Unless you get a replay very quickly to see it's a catch you can't risk being the team that in the Super Bowl didn't use a challenge and let a play like that stand just because the other team ran a quick play. It also was the smart thing to do even if the team knew the play was likely to be upheld. The Patriots were down 8. They needed to score quickly if they could, in case they missed the 2-point conversion and needed to have time after a potential onside kick. So, getting another play on the plus side of the 2:00 warning was a good idea anyway, because you get the play and then a free time out if there's an in bounds tackle.
The way it worked out was just rotten for the Falcons. First, they burned their time out. Second, they stopped the clock. Third, they gave the Patriots the chance to run a much better play than they likely would have run if they had just gotten to the line of scrimmage and attempted a quick play to try to block a challenge. If the Falcons just let the play stand, the Patriots probably run a milquetoast run into the line of scrimmage that gets them very little and sets up second down, or worse, in their rush to beat the two minute warning they take a line of scrimmage penalty or something and set up a first and 15. It is unlikely that if the Falcons don't challenge that the Patriots end up with a 20 yard downfield pass before the two minute warning.