The 49ers erased the bitter style of their Tremendous Bowl LVIII loss with an emphatic 32-19 win towards the Jets on Monday night time.
Whereas San Francisco was in postseason type, New York wasn’t. Nicely, everybody besides quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the primary “Monday Evening Soccer” motion of the 2024 season.
49ers need not rush again operating again Christian McCaffrey
Backup operating again Jordan Mason stuffed the RB1 function with aplomb with McCaffrey (calf) a late scratch. Mason had 28 carries, 147 yards and a landing.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported before the game that McCaffrey’s standing for Week 2 is unsure.
With the way in which Mason carried out because the lead again, the Niners haven’t any purpose to hurry again their star.
Brandon Aiyuk rusty after contract extension
Aiyuk completed the primary half with one reception for 14 yards on three targets. His lowlight got here late within the second quarter when quarterback Brock Purdy threw a well-placed ball that went by way of a diving Aiyuk’s arms.
It wasn’t the best starting for the wideout after he signed a four-year, $120M extension on Aug. 29, ending his coaching camp hold-in.
His tough begin to 2024 drew the ire of Corridor of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.
“There is a purpose for coaching camp,” Manning mentioned on his ESPN2 telecast together with his brother, Eli Manning, and former Patriots head coach Invoice Belichick.
“We want it. We want the reps. Get these contracts executed earlier so we are able to get in coaching camp; we do not drop balls on opening night time,” Manning fired.
Aiyuk completed the sport with two receptions for 28 yards on 5 targets.
Jets do Aaron Rodgers no favors
The four-time NFL MVP made a number of throws on Monday that confirmed he is nonetheless among the many league’s greatest quarterbacks. New York might have had a greater probability of profitable if everybody else performed on his stage.
Vast receiver Allen Lazard dropped a go on the Jets’ opening drive on a 3rd down, forcing a punt.
Operating again Breece Corridor, who solely gained 54 yards on 16 carries, fumbled after a reception on the primary play of New York’s second possession and likewise dropped a go.
Extra troubling was that the Jets protection could not get off the sphere. San Francisco ran 70 performs to New York’s 49 and had a 38:40-21:20 benefit in time of possession.
Rodgers completed 13-of-21 for 167 yards, one landing and an interception on a deflected go. He had a mediocre Jets debut, and it may have been higher if his crew helped him keep on the sphere.
Haason Reddick’s leverage will increase
The worth of the Jets’ prized offseason addition elevated whereas he remained away from the crew in search of a contract extension. Per data from Pro Football Focus, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was solely pressured on six of his 32 dropbacks (18.8%).
Reddick had 68 total pressures final season and has 50.5 sacks over the previous 4 seasons. Pay the person, New York. Your protection wants him.
What a distinction a head coach makes
With Aiyuk struggling, McCaffrey unavailable and Rodgers returning to the Jets, the desk was set for New York to document an announcement win.
As an alternative, we realized the worth of an NFL head coach. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan known as a superb recreation, whereas Jets head coach Robert Saleh seemed like somebody but to document a profitable season.
The distinction between the 2 was most evident in the course of the first drive of the second half, with San Francisco up, 16-7. The Niners marched 70 yards in 11 performs, taking seven minutes and 18 seconds off the clock en path to a landing.
Saleh, the previous 49ers defensive coordinator from 2017-20, did not have a solution for something Shanahan threw at him. It wasn’t the primary time Saleh’s been outcoached, and it will not be the final.
