Monday Night Football: Aaron Rodgers Debuts – Jets vs. 49ers Odds, Picks, and Analysis

Week 1 around the NFL concludes with the Monday Night Football as the New York Jets visit the San Francisco 49ers.

It’s essentially the Jets debut of QB Aaron Rodgers, after he was limited to only four snaps in the 2023 opener before going down with a season-ending injury. The Niners are short favorites on the NFL odds.

New York Jets +169

The Jets are healthy entering Week 1 among key players. Over the weekend, the team did put offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer on injured reserve with a hand injury. He signed with the Jets in 2023 and played in six games last season (two starts), taking 149 snaps on offense and 18 on special teams as he battled injuries and ended his season on injured reserve.

Haason Reddick

The pass-rusher is not hurt, but won’t play because he’s holding out for an extension. Reddick, acquired for a conditional 2026 third-round pick on April 1 from Philadelphia, is one of seven defenders in the past 10 seasons with a streak of four seasons of 10-plus sacks. He did not participate in the team’s voluntary off season workouts, mandatory minicamp and training camp. The 6-1, 240-pound Reddick, who amassed 27 sacks with the Eagles in 2022-23, will miss his first game since Week 17 of the 2021 season.

Jermaine Johnson

Against the ‘Niners, the Jets will start Johnson at one edge spot, while Micheal Clemons could be in line to make his second professional start on the other side. The Jets favor a rotation up front and Will McDonald, a first-round pick in 2023, will get significant snaps in Week 1. Takk McKinley, a first-round pick in 2017 who made the team after an impressive training camp, also figures to be counted on against a 49ers offense that finished last season No. 1 in yards per play (6.61) and No. 3 in scoring (28.9 pts/g).

Aaron Rodgers

Of course, Monday is also the return of Rodgers after tearing his Achilles’ tendon on New York’s fourth snap of, 2023 and missing the season. Rodgers is 6-3 in his regular-season career against the 49ers – he grew up in Chico, Calif., and rooted for the Niners as a kid. The Jets beefed up the offensive line this winter to protect Rodgers by adding the likes of John Simpson, Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. An improved offensive line and a healthy Rodgers should ensure the Jets have an attack that will lessen the pressure on the defense after it was 29th in scoring at 15.8 points per game a year ago.

HC Robert Saleh

The 49ers defensive coordinator from 2017-20, and his defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich, a 49ers LB from 2000-09, will lead their elite unit against Kyle Shanahan’s offensive dynamo. Last season, the Jets finished No. 1 in yards per play allowed (4.57) while the Niners became the first team in league annals to have a RB (Christian McCaffrey), a TE (George Kittle) and two WRs (Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel) gain at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage.

“He’s got his gameplan, and then he’s got the game that happens after the first quarter where he’ll create plays on the sideline if he has to,” Saleh said of Shanahan. “He is very, very good at recognizing the way players move and the players relate and the space that’s created on defense by certain plays and he just knows how to counterpunch, and he knows exactly when to counterpunch. He sees things on tape that gives him opportunities to exploit, and he’s one of the best.”

Shanahan, who is beginning his eighth season as San Francisco’s head man, has guided the Niners to three top-6 finishes in points per game over the last five seasons, including two top-3 finishes in 2023 and 2019 –seasons in which they went on to play in the Super Bowl.

“[Shanahan] puts a lot of stress on your defense,” All-Pro Jets LB C.J. Mosley said. “I would say all the stress for us is just to make sure we communicate. As long as we all on one page, then we’re going to be good. They get teams when they caught off guard, not ready, not expecting motions and those type of things. So long as we stay on the same page, you know we’re ready to go when they’re ready, then you know it’s about executing after that.”

San Francisco 49ers -212

The defending NFC champion Niners aren’t as healthy as the Jets, with All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey and guard Aaron Banks as questionable heading into the season opener. While both have not been fully cleared for game action as of now, Banks and McCaffrey were limited participants in all three of the team’s workouts last week. McCaffrey missed a majority of training camp and the team’s preseason slate due to a calf strain he suffered in early August.

Kyle Shanahan

Additionally, Shanahan ruled out defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), who both suffered injuries in the preseason finale. The move should not come as a surprise, with both players sitting out of all practices last week. He also tabbed safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) as doubtful. The fourth-year safety is in the process of getting back up to full speed since being medically cleared from an ACL tear.

Trent Williams

All-Pro left tackle and Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Aiyuk will both play after both recently ended long contract “hold ins” with the team. Williams should not be limited, but Aiyuk might not play a regular workload.

"I'm optimistic that things will work out with Trent."

Kyle Shanahan offers an update on Trent Williams' status for Week 1 pic.twitter.com/jyimI2jaYs

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) August 28, 2024

Brandon Aiyuk

Aiyuk earned Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2023. In 16 games (all starts), he tallied 75 receptions for a career-high 1,342 yards (17.9 average) and seven touchdowns. His 1,342 yards ranked seventh in the NFL and marked his second-consecutive 1,000-yard season, making him the first 49ers wide receiver to register back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since Anquan Boldin in the 2013–14 seasons. His 17.9 yards per reception was the second-highest mark in the NFL.

Offense in Last Seasons

Over the last two seasons (2022-23), the 49ers offense has turned the ball over 35 times, which is tied for the 2nd-fewest amount of turnovers in the NFL during that span. Since 2022, San Francisco’s offense has given the ball away 35 times, while the defense has forced 58 turnovers. The team’s +23 turnover differential ranks 1st in the NFL during that span.

The Niners outscored opponents 491-298 for a point differential of +193 in 2023, ranking 3rd in the NFL (Bal. – +203; Dal. – +194). San Francisco was second in the NFL last year in averaging 398.4 yards per game. The 49ers had 149 big plays (74 rushing, 75 receiving), the most in the NFL. McCaffrey registered 48 big plays (44 rushing, 4 receiving) in 2023, ranking 1st among all NFL players. Brock Purdy posted a passer rating of 113.0, which led all NFL QBs.

Jets vs 49ers Monday Night Football Info

When: Monday, 8:20 PM ET
Where: Levi’s Stadium
TV: ABC, ESPN
Radio: ESPN radio
Stream Option: ESPN+

Jets vs 49ers Series History

The 49ers are 11-3 all-time vs. the Jets and won the most recent matchup early in the 2020 season, 31-13 in New Jersey. Jimm Garoppolo was the Niners’ primary QB that day and threw for two scores, while Sam Darnold threw for 179 yards and a TD for the Jets. Both are of course long gone now.

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