Just my 2 cents to throw into the void and hopefully never think about this game again:
Sark blew our chances with that call. Absolutely. The offense pissed down its leg for an entire half once again, this defense carried the team all fucking night. Until..... 2 plays. The fucking screen, and the fucking 2-yard 4th down conversion. The pitch left will always be remembered by fans, but I'm not sure I'll ever forget 4th and 2 and Pete rolling with ONE defensive tackle, and WIDE OPEN A gap at the C/RG and only Morice Blackwell to protect it against a C, G and 230-lb Will Howard for about 10 yards of space.
I have rarely seen that (NASCAR?) package all season, and as they trotted it out my head starting spinning immediately before the ball was snapped. You go three linemen when they only need 2 yards, and only one DT. From my vantage point in the corner of that endzone, the gap next to Broughton was fucking humongous, I couldn't believe it as the play started. Obviously they converted easily and should have had a touchdown. Maybe one of you knowledgable posters will do a deep dive and make me feel stupid for not understanding the package and intent, but at 4th and 2 I don't understand why you're not crowding the line of scrimmage and daring them to beat you deep. Give up a safety and go cover 1, but why tf would you not sell out on run and press the WRs? Take your chances with Howard beating you deep with pressure in his face. I just didn't understand it. Simmons was 1-on-1 with a guard and completely useless, Blackwell go swallowed up (Gbenda wasn't having enough of a game to be in I guess), Chip Kelly must have been salivating when he saw it.
Obviously the toss is 10/10 on the WTF scale, but Pete's call there is 9/10. It came at an absolutely crucial time as we had all the momentum in the 2nd half and that's a fucking back-breaker if we stop them on 4th down there and FINALLY take the lead.