There were 8 minutes left and 3 gets you within a FG. How is there any other option?

And is no different than criticizing games where a team kicks instead of goes for it and then loses by 3. Except that people don't generally do that. Those games do not stand out, even though the decision to kick it is what lost the game because it wasn't the decision to maximize point totals.

Unless you can show me data showing that conversion rates are not as frequent as the assumed data set, based on all available data, going for it on fourth increases scoring outputs. On a super macro level, a 1.5 to 2 points per game increase in scoring per team compared to 2007-2010 when the analytics started being more widely spread would be about what you'd expect from the strategy change. But obviously there could be other changes that would need to be isolated, such as rules changes and other strategies/player improvement that may make TDs more likely even assuming three played downs. And despite going for it more, teams are actually be making more field goals because kickers are both making more field goals and being asked to kick 50+ field goals at a greater frequency. I don't know if the newest models have accounted for the greater 50+ FG accuracy in determining whether to go for it.

simply blindly following “go-for-it” analytics. Weather. Momentum. How’s my defense playing? How’s my offense playing? Does an unsuccessful 4th down attempt change the game more negatively than a successful FG does so positively? Is a punt better than going for it on 4th and 6 inches on my own 36?

Feel. Gut. These things still have a place in the game. Using an analytical sheet doesn’t take any skill.

something along the lines of, "the analytics don't tell me if Aaron Donald is playing 3 technique on that play."

Basically, I agree that there is substantial value, but taking game situation, who you are as a team (strengths and weaknesses) as well as who your oponnent is as a defensive unit is much more important and valuable.

I was in the car listening to the local radio team as that drive stalled. They knew the weather was going to get significantly worse, as did anyone in the road at that time. There weren't going to be any 50 yard FGs.