Brandon Aiyuk's 77-yard touchdown extends 49ers' lead

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers are making a habit of hitting big plays early in the third quarter.

For the second week in a row, the Niners scored on a long touchdown pass on their first possession of the second half. After tight end George Kittle caught a 66-yard score from quarterback Brock Purdy last week in Jacksonville, Purdy hit wideout Brandon Aiyuk for a 77-yard score against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.

With 10:54 left in the third quarter, Purdy dropped back and scanned the field, finding Aiyuk one-on-one with Tampa Bay cornerback Jamel Dean down the left sideline. Purdy lofted a perfect pass that hit Aiyuk in stride. He hauled it in and raced to the end zone for the score. The extra point made it 20-7 San Francisco.

The touchdown is the longest of Aiyuk's career, San Francisco's longest touchdown from scrimmage this season and the second-longest pass play by any Niner since Week 8 of 2021.

With nearly two full quarters to play, Aiyuk has five catches for a career-high 156 yards and a score.