What's DUMB is playing to lose more slowly, rather than playing to win. If you want to WIN, you go for two as early as possible, so you know how to plan your remaining time.
Imagine you're down 8 with 2 minutes to go. Do you try to use up the whole two minutes and score with no time remaining, so as not to leave the opponent with time to score a game winning FG? Or do you try to score as quickly as possible, to leave yourself time for an onside kick and another FG drive? You don't know which to do because you don't know whether you'll make the 2-point conversion.
Go for it earlier and then you'll either be down by 7 or 9 and you'll be able to maximize your chances of winning. That's the name of the game... Not "keeping (false) hope alive until it's too late".
...dave
P.S. There are some point margins where the advantage of kicking or going for two depends on the time remaining... But after snoring to reduce a 15-point deficit to 9 points is not one of them. Expected win percentage is ALWAYS higher by going for two early in that scenario.
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