O make mistakes. The D can sit back and if a QB can't hit an open guy you get credit. But when you show no aggression to disrupt anything the O is doing even ignorant fans can detect a problem.
The O, on the other hand, cannot get by on luck. And it's harder for fans to understand how everything works in concert to create points so it's harder to point to issues. And yes, they at least try different formations and plays, which gives the appearance of creativity.
The O is much worse and has not impressed since Taysom was here (and even then it was meh most times), but the D just looks like it's being run by a middle school coach who preaches a let the other team make a mistake philosophy.