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          49ers' George Kittle makes acrobatic 12-yard touchdown catch

          • Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff WriterSep 29, 2024, 06:11 PM ET
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              Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In his 10 years with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga. You can follow Nick via Twitter @nwagoner
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          SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After penalties wiped away a pair of offensive touchdowns, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle finally struck pay dirt with one of the most acrobatic catches of his career against the Patriots.

          Two penalties, including a holding call on Kittle that nullified a catch-and-run score from running back Jordan Mason, left the Niners with a third-and-10 from New England's 12.

          On the play, quarterback Brock Purdy scampered away from pressure and lobbed a pass to the back corner of the end zone. Kittle skied over three Patriots defenders, reeled it in and managed to control it all the way through for the catch and the score. The extra point made it 20-0 49ers with 3:11 left in the first half.

          In need of a bounce back after the Patriots rattled off 10 straight points to cut their lead in half, the 49ers got it quickly. Purdy hit receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. for a 53-yard gain on the Niners' first offensive play of the half and Mason did the rest.

          Following a 13-yard catch, Mason scored easily off the left side from 4 yards out to stretch San Francisco's lead back to 27-10 with 10:08 left in the third quarter.