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          Christian McCaffrey tip-toes sideline for 27-yard TD from Brock Purdy

          • Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff WriterDec 11, 2022, 10:55 PM
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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. -- San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy looked right at home in the first half of his first career NFL start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

          The Bucs pressured Purdy consistently in the first half, but he made them pay almost every time, capping his near-flawless first half with a 32-yard strike to wideout Brandon Aiyuk for his second touchdown pass of the day.

          That score to Aiyuk made Purdy only the second NFL quarterback since 1950 (joining Don Strock) to throw two touchdowns and rush for one in the first half of his first start. It also gave the 49ers a 28-0 halftime lead as Purdy went 14-of-18 for 185 yards and two scores.

          With about eight minutes to go in the second quarter, Purdy evaded pressure and lobbed a perfect throw to running back Christian McCaffrey down the left sideline for a 27-yard touchdown. The score staked the Niners to a 21-0 lead with 7:49 left in the half.

          Earlier in the quarter, on second-and-goal, Purdy dropped back to pass, couldn't find an open receiver, stepped to his left and darted up the middle to open space for an easy 2-yard touchdown. It was the first rushing score of Purdy's career to give San Francisco a 14-0 lead.