The Captain was probably glancing around and double checking his flap setting, various trim indicators, that the spoiler handle was down and engine gauges looked normal, in addition to other things.
Also mentally reviewing that there was plenty of fuel and that all checklists had been read and completed.
Who knows? One quick radio call about the switched off runway lights and the tragedy might never have happened.
Captains with a serious lack of rest and have 'get-home itis' or are very "mission-oriented" have less time to double check various items (allow the FO time to question things) and sense that something is not right. I don't know if they were in a big hurry, other than to make a 'wheels up' time.
As a side note, airlines also keep internal safety reports on crews which missed either the flap setting or forgot to do part of a critical checklist. We rarely hear about these because there is no accident.
