David Lombardi ๐คGeorge Kittle: โIf we stay on the field and our defense forces a turnover or two, I think weโll have a lot of fun.โ
Scoring defense is also an offensive (and special teams) stat. #HogTheBall https://twitter.com/kevinamolina/status/1995528222570918000
#HogTheBall probably not necessary, #ControlTheBall should be enough, but that'll be difficult against this Browns defense. Challenge on for Purdy and the 49ers https://twitter.com/sfdata9ers/status/1994426556492419157
Shanahan defended Purdy's decisions on INTs, which suggests โ to me, at least โ that the playcaller also got greedy.
I called out a related trend in AZ, when 49ers bypassed simple profits on manageable 3rd downs.
#HogTheBall demands more Patience: https://sfstandard.com/2025/11/24/brock-purdy-interceptions-49ers-playoffs-panthers/
Those 3 first-half INTs can end up becoming one of the best things to happen to Brock Purdy and this 49ers offense this season if they're applied as proper growth moments.
They taught the dangers of impatience โ without costing SF the game. Post-halftime, ultra-disciplined #HogTheBall returned.
And that's exactly what this 49ers team, with its wounded defense, will need moving forward. They are 8-4
So the 49ers now have TD drives of 15 and 13 plays. Yeah, #HogTheBall was the way tonight. What a bizarre first-half blip
Well, that half was so crazy that I actually think playing the Browns' top-tier defense will benefit Brock Purdy โ because it might force him to stay in the #HogTheBall mentality that the 49ers are going to need to close the season.
But first, the 49ers have a very weird game to finish here
Again, Purdy didn't take the simple profit in front of him. First down was there for the taking with his legs. No reason for it โ the guiding philosophy HAS to be #HogTheBall
We are nearly 9 minutes into this game and Carolina's offense has yet to play. #HogTheBall #ShieldTheDefense
#HogTheBall at SoFi, #GiveTheBallBack at Levi's.
The results won't be pretty