SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ George Kittle's personality and tenacity would fit right in on this defensive unit.
He plays tight end for the 49ers, a stout fellow who rather enjoys drive blocking people into next week as a tight end when he isn't catching passes.
So imagine Kittle's glee in catching a glimpse of how his defensive friends teed off.
On Saturday at Levi's Stadium, in front of raucous red sea of fans waving towels and yanking on their 49ers jerseys, San Francisco's defense muscled a Minnesota Vikings outfit used to doing the pushing and shoving.
How often have you heard this in football: Impose your will?
The 49ers imposed, and then some. They left their forearm and cleat marks across the collective facemasks of the Vikings in a physical display that often leads to Super Bowl appearances. San Francisco won Saturday's NFC Divisional playoff game 27-10 to advance to its 14th conference championship game since 1982, second best in that stretch to New England's 15.
One win separates the 49ers from their seventh Super Bowl invitation. San Francisco will host the winner of Sunday's Green Bay-Seattle game at Lambeau Field. You can expect the defense will be there, snarling and ready to pounce.
"Our defense? They're pretty good. Holy cow!" Kittle said excitedly after the game. "Our defense is fun to watch. So violent, so physical."
