Check out our insights on the Monday Night Football clash between the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. Find the best odds and winning picks here!
Aaron Rodgers was the major story coming into the 2023 season. Rodgers and the Jets hosted the Buffalo Bills in the Monday Night Football season opener, but the 10-time Pro Bowler was lost for the year on the Jets’ very first possession. He suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon that needed a long-term rehab, so the buzz is a little more muted coming into the Jets’ 2024 season opener. We will see what the Jets are capable of early in this season when they face the San Francisco 49ers to close out Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.
Week 1 New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers
New York Jets +4.5
San Francisco 49ers -4.5
Total 43.5
There has been a bit of line movement over the last few months. San Francisco was originally a 5.5-point favorite per the NFL betting odds, and we saw that number fall to as low as 3.5 before more money came in on the Niners. The under has fallen from 46 to 43.5 during that same timeframe, yet we have not seen a bounceback there.
New York Jets Overview
Few teams have the variability factor that the New York Jets possess in 2024. If Rodgers can play like the Hall of Famer we saw in Green Bay, the Jets are a serious Super Bowl contender. He led the Packers to 10 seasons of 10 or more wins, and he has some real weapons. Garrett Wilson has shown us a lot through his first two seasons in the league and could have a breakout campaign in 2024. Mike Williams is a real deep threat when he is healthy, while Allen Lazard has a rapport with Rodgers during his time in Green Bay. Standout left tackle Tyron Smith should be able to protect the blind side, and Breece Hall is a popular pick to post big numbers as the primary running back in this offense.
However, Rodgers will turn 41 years old in December. He showed clear regression during his last season in Green Bay, and now he has to come back from a serious injury in his 40s. That’s a real tough ask, and you have to be at least a bit concerned that he didn’t play a single snap in the preseason.
There are numerous questions on offense, but there are few questions on the other side of the ball. The Jets are absolutely loaded on defense with talents like C.J. Mosley and Sauce Gardner. The entre defensive line is superb even with Haason Reddick holding out.
San Francisco 49ers Overview
Kyle Shanahan has made San Francisco a perennial contender in the NFC. The 49ers have made it to the NFC Conference Championship in four of the last five seasons, but they are still looking for that elusive sixth Super Bowl victory.
They struck gold with the best Mr. Irrelevant in NFL Draft history. Brock Purdy was very good in his second season and having him on a rookie contract allowed the front office to keep other high-priced talent like Brandon Aiyuk despite an extended holdout. Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are a solid one-two punch for Purdy in the passing game. This offense is predicated on Christian McCaffrey though as he is the quintessential Shanahan running back. McCaffrey is questionable to play on Monday night, but Jordan Mason is a pretty solid backup.
There is plenty of talent all over this defense. Nick Bosa is an NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Fred Warner is seen as one of the best linebackers in the NFL, and Talanoa Hufanga reminds many of Ronnie Lott with his play in the secondary. San Francisco has some depth too on this side of the ball.
Monday Night Football Prediction
San Francisco is the play on Monday night. The Niners have been great for three straight seasons, and they have very few questions on either side of the ball. Meanwhile, no one knows just how good Aaron Rodgers will be after a major injury, so it’s a big risk to back the Jets given the circumstances.
Final Score: San Francisco 26, New York 17
