Name it a mulligan. Aaron Rodgers will make his second-ever begin for the New York Jets on Monday evening, when he faces off towards his hometown San Francisco 49ers. It is nearly excellent, in a manner. The oldest energetic participant within the NFL coming off a torn Achilles begins the 2024 season towards the workforce he would have appreciated to been chosen by in 2005, and it is in Santa Clara the place he’ll try to influence the NFL world that the four-time MVP continues to be a menace.
We all know what the 49ers are. Among the best groups within the NFL is favored to return to the Tremendous Bowl after falling to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in extra time of Tremendous Bowl LVIII final 12 months. However questions stay regarding each the consistency and the ceiling of quarterback Brock Purdy, and the way the protection will fare underneath new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen.
Talking of ceilings, what are the expectations for the Jets in 2024? With Rodgers underneath heart and the backing of a high 5 protection, is New York a doable Tremendous Bowl contender? Perhaps we will discover some solutions to those questions when the Jets tackle the 49ers Monday. Let’s break down this interconference matchup.
All NFL odds are by way of SportsLine Consensus.
The place to look at
Date: Monday, Sep. 9 | Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
Channel: ABC/ESPN | Stream: fubo
Observe: CBS Sports activities App
Odds: 49ers -3.5 O/U 43.5
Aaron Rodgers vs. 49ers
|
W-L |
6-3 |
0-4 |
|
Passing YPG |
288.6 |
246.3 |
|
TD-INT |
20-2 |
5-3 |
When the Jets have the ball
This matchup contains a participant you might name “Mr. Monday Night time.” Rodgers has received 10 straight begins on “Monday Night time Soccer,” which is only one shy of tying Ken Stabler for the longest such streak all time. However then there are the Jets, who’ve misplaced 12 out of their final 13 prime-time video games.
The query is fairly easy: What is that this Jets offense going to seem like with Rodgers underneath heart in comparison with another person like Zach Wilson or Tim Boyle? On one hand, this Nathaniel Hackett-led offense scored the fewest offensive touchdowns final 12 months for the reason that 2012 Chiefs with 18. However on the opposite, New York has professional playmakers like Breece Corridor and Garrett Wilson, and upgraded the offensive line with Tyron Smith, John Simpson and Morgan Moses.
You need to anticipate to see Wilson and Corridor obtain loads of touches on Monday evening. The previous simply turned the primary Jet to cross 1,000 receiving yards in every of his first two NFL seasons, and did so with six totally different quarterbacks. As for Corridor, he is a dual-threat again that attempted to hold the offense himself in 2023, racking up the fourth-most scrimmage yards within the NFL with 1,585. He additionally recorded probably the most touches (93), scrimmage yards (507) and was tied for scoring probably the most touchdowns (4) from Weeks 16-18. Accounting for each of those playmakers is the important thing to victory for San Francisco.
The 40-year-old Rodgers just isn’t going to be probably the most spry signal-caller within the league, which opens the door for Nick Bosa to probably have a giant evening. Moses on the precise facet is somebody who has confronted off towards Bosa earlier than, and it might be him who’s crucial offensive lineman on Monday evening.
“Predominantly, I performed towards Bosa final 12 months,” Moses stated, by way of the Jets official web site. “And I stay up for the matchup. He is an important participant, the issues he is completed within the NFL since he is been within the league, it has been phenomenal, and I stay up for it.”
Rodgers has to stay upright if the Jets wish to win Monday evening. Or win in any respect, for that matter. From there, we’ll see if Rodgers continues to be an MVP candidate, or extra of a distributor.
When the 49ers have the ball
The dialog round Purdy is at all times an interesting one — particularly when he is dealing with good defenses. Is he the engine that makes this Ferrari of an offense go? Eh, in all probability not. However he is a reasonably good “driver” of that Ferrari, if you’ll. Purdy’s 9.6 yards per try final season set a brand new NFL report, and he completed within the high 5 in passing completion (69.4%), passing yards (4,280) and passing touchdowns (31).
The 49ers have weapons all throughout the board with Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. They led the NFL in yards per play in 2023 with 6.6, however do not overlook this Jets protection. They led the league in NFL opponent yards per play with 4.6.
The Jets have the most effective defensive tackles within the recreation in Quinnen Williams, a dynamic duo at linebacker in C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams, then, who could also be the very best cornerback within the league with Sauce Gardner. The Jets are proficient in any respect three ranges, so how do you assault that type of unit? From all angles. Lean into the flexibility Kyle Shanahan’s scheme thrives on.
There are a few notable storylines that will threaten the 49ers’ possibilities on Monday evening, or no less than their offensive prowess. McCaffrey is formally listed as questionable to play because of calf and Achilles accidents, however it’s a must to think about he’ll. Nonetheless, it stays to be seen how good he feels and the way efficient he may be with these illnesses. Moreover, might the 49ers’ WR1 Aiyuk present some rust? Everybody’s excited concerning the four-year $120 million extension he signed, however Aiyuk has not been hitting the follow subject together with his teammates all offseason. Then there’s star left deal with Trent Williams, who has been away from the workforce because of his contract as effectively. Is San Francisco set to hit the bottom working? Or the alternative?
Prediction
The Jets are 0-5 straight up and towards the unfold of their final 5 highway prime-time video games. However how a lot are you able to look into that since Rodgers has by no means performed a highway prime-time recreation for New York. As for the 49ers, they’ve did not cowl in seven straight residence video games, outscoring their opponents by a median of .2 factors per recreation.
In case you’re giving me 4 factors with a motivated Jets workforce on the highway, I will take it. In my Week 1 picks column, which was not excellent, I used to be daring and took the Jets to win straight up. Count on a detailed recreation that doesn’t function offensive fireworks, and since it must be shut, I am going to take the underdog with the higher protection to cowl.
Projected rating: Jets 23-20