2024 Week 1: Jets 16, 49ers 32

This was a faceoff between two of the best teams in the league, and SF just made their case for being THE #1 team in the NFL. The Jets are a good team with a very good roster and defense, but the difference in this one came down to coaching. Robert Saleh is a joke of a head coach, everyone saw it on Hard Knocks years ago, and Kyle Shanahan has constructed a great staff. Jets are held back by Saleh and Hackett.

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- Brock Purdy (19/29 for 231 yards, 1 rush for 11 yards) is probably the most disrespected QB in the NFL, solely because of his draft status. Even the announcers had brought it up, as they suspect Purdy will want a big deal soon. A well earned contract will be coming his way soon. The ‘nicest’ thing you’ll hear someone say about Purdy is that he is “not bad”, and that he is a product of the Shanahan system. You know, the same system that didn’t fix first-rounder Trey Lance.

This game for Purdy cemented his greatness, for me. The Jets pass defense is extremely good and they have a very good case for the best in the NFL, and Purdy had a very respectable game… but no touchdowns so he must not be good. Purdy is a fringe top 5 QB and the fact that that take can be controversial blows my mind.

- Aaron Rodgers (13/21 for 167 yards, 1TD, 1 INT) is receiving a lot of hate for this game but he didn’t play all that bad. Compared to the performances of the other QBs this week, Rodgers played like a top 15 QB this week. People are overreacting because the Jets were facing the niners this week, and his numbers were down because this is a great defense that planned for this game well. People look for excuses to hate Rodgers because of his extracurricular activities. Had San Fran or the Jets played Carolina, Arizona, or NYG we would all be praising them.

RB Report:

The big story of this game – UDFA Jordan Mason (28-147-1, 1 catch for 5-0/1) gets his first career start and carries the 49ers to a victory. Jordan Mason graduated from Georgia Tech and spent the first 2 years of his career backing up Elijah Mitchell who was backing up Christian McCaffrey. 

It seems like Mason is getting the nod next week as the starter again, then a split role as CMC returns to being fully healthy, could be a sweet run for Mason’s career here. Achilles injuries are tough to come back from and McCaffrey isn’t known for being a pillar of health (injury-wise), Mason could potentially be the lead for San Francisco from here on out.

Unfortunately for Mason, after the game he may have slipped-up or stumbled on his wording in regards to when he knew he would be the starter, and it stole the moment from him.

- Breece Hall (16-54-1, 5 catches for 39-0/6) is going to have a monster season. This offseason Rodgers was going on about how lethal Hall is receiving out of the backfield, and how he’s going to catch a lot of passes. Well, that was certainly the case in this one. Hall is the next CMC as long as Rodgers is around in New York.

WR Report:

- Garrett Wilson (6-60-0/11) is Rodgers' guy, no surprise, and is going to be an amazing connection the whole season. 11 targets in this game but so many other storylines developed in this game that it’s being overlooked.

On the Jets first touchdown they completed 3 third and longs, all of them to Garrett Wilson.

- Allen Lazard (6-89-2/9) had a big game on paper, scoring 2 TDs, but before that last drive with Tyrod Taylor in, Lazard was due for a 3-76-1/5 stat-line. Nothing special about that, just scored a touchdown.

- Deebo Samuel (8-23-1 rushing, 5-54-0/9) had a big game and a lot of carries, I expect his rushing numbers to stay inflated while CMC is nursing his injury.

- Brandon Aiyuk (2-28-0/5) did not play a good game here, mostly due to Sauce Gardner (3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 PD), but also likely because he hasn’t practiced with the team and taken real reps since the Super Bowl. Aiyuk is another overpaid WR.

- Jauan Jennngs (5-64-0/5) is coming into his own. This rise will take away from Aiyuk more than it does from Deebo. This is a deep receiving core and Ricky Pearsall will be the odd-man out for a few years.

D/ST Report:

- There’s not much to report on the two defenses, both are very good in their own right. The Jets defense is designed to stop the Bills/Bengals/Chiefs, the better throwing teams. The Niners have probably the strongest and most balanced offenses in terms of talent and scheme, and thats where the Jets got hurt.

- San Francisco defense, much like their offense, is very balanced and great in all aspects of the game. They were dominant here and are missing some key players.