If you watched the 49ers' 41-23 loss to the Saints on Sunday, you probably noticed that they didn't do anything particularly well.
However, let's give credit where credit is due: Chip Kelly did make one brilliant call just before the end of the first half and that call worked out perfectly for the 49ers.
On the Saints' final offensive possession of the first half, Drew Brees torched the 49ers secondary and drove straight down the field. The Saints drive started with just 48 seconds left and New Orleans sitting on its own 21-yard line.
In a matter of just five plays and 40 seconds, Brees was able to drive the Saints 66 yards down to the 49ers 13-yard line. With 8 seconds, Brees was going to have one shot at the end zone, a shot that he probably felt pretty good about considering that he was 4 of 5 for 66 yards on the drive.
Unfortunately for Brees though, he never got a chance to take a shot at the end zone because of defensive strategy employed by the 49ers.
On the play, every 49ers defensive back grabbed a Saints receiver and took them to the ground (You can see the play by clicking here). Since Brees had no one to throw to, he simply threw the ball away.
Now, as you probably know, you can't just grab a receiver like that because it's against the rules. Since it's against the rules, the 49ers were hit with three flags on the play.
"We have multiple falls on the play, all against the defense," the referee said as he was announcing the penalties. "We have holding, defense, No. 25. That foul is declined. Holding, defense, No. 27. That penalty is declined. Holding, defense, No. 35 is accepted. Five-yard penalty, automatic first down."
Sure, the Saints got a first down, but they lost four seconds on the play. In the NFL, that time doesn't get put back on the clock, so New Orleans didn't have time to take another shot into the end zone. Instead, the Saints had to settle for a field goal.
And yes, that was exactly how Kelly planned it to happen.
"We practice all sorts of scenarios at the end of the first half and the end of the game," Kelly said after the game "So, we got flagged for a penalty there, which is a 5-yard penalty and then they kicked a field goal. They were in field goal range."
A field goal is a lot better than a touchdown for the 49ers and the good news for Kelly is that since his strategy worked, the 49ers only lost 41-23 instead of 45-23.
