Conventional Wisdom says "Run when you can; Pass when you must." Belichick says Conventional Wisdom be damned. I would rather Win ugly and unconventionally, than lose gracefully and conventionally.
The game plan worked. But it was closer than expected, because the Jets actually played a near perfect game. It still wasn't good enough.
Here's the thing.
The Jets have a decent amount of talent, particularly in the trenches. They can compete with anyone straight up, but are very, very bad in the area of turnovers, both giving it away and not taking it away.
If they play turnover free ball, they will be competitive against any team, and win more than they lose.
Had they had their typical amount of turnovers, this game would not have been close. It was close because they did not turn the ball over, and they will play any team close when that happens.
They had Denver is essentially the exact same spot a week earlier.
With 6:09 left vs Denver they had the ball at their own 33, down 24-17.
With 7:43 left against us they had the ball at their 14, down 27-19.
Then they got it back vs Denver with 56 seconds and GeeNo threw a pick.
They got it back against us with 1:06 left against us and didn't, so it ended with a longshot FG being blocked.
It seems the difference between those 2 games is just what happened late, to a defense that played 41 minutes.