If the Delta flight was either:
Atlanta - departed gate at 1:25
New York - departed gate at 1:57

You were very lucky to even board - arriving at the airport at noon or later with bags to check and then lines at C&I and TSA to go through was, in retrospect, bad pre-planning and circumstantial. Any travel is subject to unexpected obstacles.
Throwing $$ at the problem - [red cap] - solved some time constraints but your final reflection in the post of arriving 2 hours or more before the flight is good advice.