Think of the backlash if he had run two plays up the gut for no gain or lost yardage, punted and the Jets came back to win the game. Everybody would have gone nuclear and criticized the calls as too conservative and playing not to lose. I can hear Sullivan and all saying the calls were too conservative, he needs to get a pair, what about trying to win, etc, etc, etc..
Hindsight is always 20/20 especially when reviewing football calls. Its always a great call if it works and very dumb when it doesn't....