Quarterback Aaron Rodgers makes his long-awaited return after playing less than five snaps in his debut season for New York during 2023-2024.
When the 2023-2024 New York Jets season kicked off on the first Monday Night Football (MNF) game of the year, excitement in MetLife Stadium was buzzing as fans gathered to witness the debut of future Hall of Fame-quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a Jets uniform. Just four snaps into his first game as a Jet, however, Rodgers went down with a torn achilles injury when he was tackled from behind by Leonard Floyd, then of the Buffalo Bills but now part of the San Francisco 49ers, the team Rodgers will see in his first game back on September 9.
The life of a New York Jets fan has been marred by disappointment, unluckiness and sometimes embarrassment, but with Rodgers fully recovered and a team that hosts an incredible depth of talent, 2024-2025 could finally be a special year for fans of the Gang Green. Its first test this season is by no means an easy one, though, as the Niners are coming off a Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and have managed to retain some of its own talent recently as well.
The Niners were able to reach agreements on new contract extensions for star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and offensive tackle Trent Williams, despite both holding out for much of training camp. Head coach Kyle Shanahan will have his full array of weapons available to him when he calls his first plays for quarterback Brock Purdy, including reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey also missed much of training camp and received a contract extension of his own, but his missed time was based upon an injury to his calf rather than a contract holdout.
In what should be a great game to cap off week one of the 2024-2025 NFL regular season, the Jets will look to prove that it should be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender this year, while the Niners are out for revenge after falling just short of the ultimate prize. Assuming a disaster such as what occurred in the first MNF game of last season is avoided this time around, spectators of the league will be treated to two of the best defenses in football and offenses that can create explosive plays at any moment.
On William Hill sportsbook, the 49ers currently stand as four-point favorites, with the Jets having odds of +175 to claim its first victory of the season. The spread is unsurprising due to the unknown state of the Jets now with Rodgers back in the fold and the game set to be played in San Francisco. However, the Jets defense might be the very best in football and with offensive weapons such as Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson and a rebuilt offensive line, New York stands a great chance of pulling off the upset on MNF.
The Niners will counter with Aiyuk and McCaffrey, along with toolsy wide receiver Deebo Samuel and the ever-energetic George Kittle. San Francisco’s defense is nothing to scoff at as well, but with new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen in place, it remains to be seen how the team adjusts to its third different defensive coaching staff in just three years. The franchise also remains hungry after going to overtime with the Chiefs last February on its quest for a Super Bowl title, ultimately losing in the final seconds despite having a number of chances to win.
Breece Hall of the Jets is the main x-factor for this game, as the third-year running back returned from a leg injury last season to resemble one of the best running backs in the NFL by year’s end. In fact, the Jets-Niners matchup may feature the two best running backs in the league currently with McCaffrey and Hall set to take the field. The Jets added offensive linemen Tyron Smith, John Simpson and Morgan Moses this offseason to help ensure proper protection for Rodgers as well as open running lanes for Hall.
With a worse offensive line to end this past season, Hall accounted for 507 total yards just in the final three games of the 2023-2024 NFL year. Coming off such a torrid stretch and now running behind one of the better offensive lines in football, at least on paper, Hall has a great chance of putting his talents on display starting in week one, and even making a run at the Offensive Player of the Year award by season’s end.
The goal for the Niners will be stopping Hall and getting pressure on Rodgers to force him to scramble and really test his athleticism coming off a major injury as a 40-year old quarterback. While the former Green Bay Packers legend has made a career out of finding ways to improvise, father time always catches up to every athlete, and Rodgers best chance at success will be from inside the pocket. If Hall can keep the chains moving and playmakers such as Wilson create separation for Rodgers to execute explosive plays, the Jets could go into San Francisco and hand the Niners a week one loss to start its season.
Williams, Aiyuk and MCaffrey may all be rusty after missing the vast majority of training camp and not participating in any preseason games either. Facing a Jets defense that has been amongst the best in the league ever since head coach Robert Saleh took over, the Niners could be at a strong disadvantage with an offense that may need time to find its top form. Stars such as Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams will be looking to show out this year also as Gardner will be up for an extension next year and Williams received a new $96m deal last offseason.
The Jets and Niners will kick off MNF with what is sure to be one of the better matchups this NFL regular season despite it only being week one. Both teams feature some of the most thrilling talent the league has to offer, making it no surprise the NFL and ESPN desired to put each at the forefront of the 2024-2025 season. The storylines behind Rodgers, the Niners offseason and how the two franchises could fare as Super Bowl contenders this year have all led into this game that could have a dramatic impact on both teams’ seasons going forward.
