49ers scored 3 times on 1 drive (but questionable penalties wiped out 2 of them)

The San Francisco 49ers started to pull away from the New England Patriots, and they drove down the field with their first drive in the second quarter hoping to make it a three-score game.

Just outside the red zone, the Niners thought they had scored a touchdown with a terrific catch-and-run by running back Jordan Mason and some great blocking by tight end George Kittle.

Or so San Francisco thought, as the referees called a holding penalty on Kittle, wiping away the touchdown. It was a borderline call that even the Fox Sports TV broadcast seemed to think should not have been made.

No matter for the 49ers, though, as they continued to march down the field. On a 2nd-and-5 within the red zone, they found paydirt again, courtesy of a quarterback Brock Purdy scramble and throw to fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

But again, the officials called the play back due to an illegal shift, with two players having not gotten set.

On review, it looked like both players in question, Kittle and wide receiver Jauan Jennings, had been in a legal position.

The 49ers faced 3rd-and-10 with a chance that they would not be able to convert. Purdy unleashed a throw to Kittle, who was triple-covered and still brought it down. It was an incredible throw and an even better catch.

So the 49ers scored three times on the same drive, but they only got seven points.

Related story: Who are the referees for the 49ers game against the Patriots?

In all seriousness, part of the game is working around the officiating, and the Niners managed to do that on multiple occasions.

For a team looking to bounce back from a two-game losing streak, this is the type of resiliency the 49ers needed to show.

Hopefully, they will continue this positive momentum into the second half.

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