I don't get this desperation go for it mentality. Converting fourth down did not guarantee a TD. We still had 10+ yards to go in the hardest part of the field, the red zone. And if we convert the fourth down, due to the time we may now use trying to get the TD, any failure to get the TD there would guarantee we could not win this game in the fourth quarter -- only a tie (which would require the 2 point conversion). I didn't see the need to be that desperate -- at least not yet. Given the score and game scenario that 3 points and saving game clock were both valuable.
I was pissed when we went for it on fourth down. We were stonewalling Denver's O and we ourselves were now in a more caution-less 2 minute mode moving it somewhat better between the 30s. So if we had kicked the FG the scenario is: we are down by 5, there is 6 mins on the clock, and Denver has the ball on its own 20. We should have felt pretty good the D could get a 3 and out. Plus we had all 3 timeouts remaining as well as the 2 minute warning to facilitate a change of possession without using much clock.
So if we kick the FG, then hold Denver to a 3 and out (again we should have felt fairly confident of that 3 and out)? Great, we now likely have 2 possessions left (again thanks to the timeouts). This sets up 2 possible drives to the much easier attained Denver 35 to convert 2 FGs (not to mention it makes the sputtering Denver O feel pressure to call riskier plays - IMHO advantage Patriots D). Yet!! If we fail to get a FG on possession 1, or fail to hold Denver to 3 and out before possession 1? We now know we must have a TD on our next possession. Oh no! We can't convert that. Oh wait! We did end up in that position. Oh wait, we did find a way to score a TD. Oh that's right, we also had to have a 2 point conversion that we shouldn't have needed if we didn't act desperate. Next time have some damn faith that we don't need to act desperate when there is 6 minutes remaining in a one score game.