49ers vs Jets news: 3 keys to an SF victory against New York in Week 1

The 2024 season is finally here for the San Francisco 49ers, as they’ll host the New York Jets on Monday Night Football at Levi’s Stadium, with kickoff slated for 5:15 p.m.

Much has changed since the two teams last faced off in 2020 in a disastrous game at MetLife Stadium where the 49ers won 31-13, but faced a number of key injuries that ultimately derailed their season.

Now, facing former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for the first time, the 49ers will look to start their season off with a victory, but face a tough challenge with quarterback Aaron Rodgers returning to the fold following an Achilles injury in Week 1 last year.

Heading into the game, the 49ers are seen as 4.5-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over/under placed at 43.5 points.

Here’s what you need to know about the 49ers’ opponent on Monday.

Opponent Preview

The Jets enter the season with high expectations after a second-straight 7-10 campaign in 2023 under head coach Robert Saleh, as they return Rodgers, while also adding a number of pieces this offseason with hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

New York possesses one of the best defenses in the NFL, ranking third in 2023 in yards allowed per game, and will now hopefully get a stronger offense to back them up in 2024.

Last season, the Jets were led by star running back Breece Hall, who nearly cashed in on a 1,000-yard season, falling just short by six yards, while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He’ll now look for a bigger year in 2023, working alongside a (hopefully) stronger passing attack under Rodgers.

New York’s offense is led by star receiver Garrett Wilson, who has put together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to start his career, despite dealing with subpar quarterback. He’ll be looking for an even bigger breakout season in 2024 as the clear go-to target for Aaron Rodgers.

Keys to the Game

Pressure on the quarterback: The Jets looked to revamp their offensive line this offseason, adding tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses to bolster the edges, while also signing guard John Simpson and drafting Penn State’s Olu Fashanu with the No. 11 pick.

In Week 1, the 49ers should look to attack that new group with their revamped pass rush and get pressure on the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers is coming off a major Achilles injury and is entering his age-41 season in 2024, raising questions about his mobility.

If the 49ers are able to collapse the pocket on a consistent basis on Monday night, they should make things difficult for Rodgers and Co.

That starts with star Nick Bosa, who had 10.5 sacks in 2023 after an elite 2022 year that saw him reach 18.5 sacks and earn a massive, long-term extension. Now, he still had a great season, winning on over 22 percent of his reps, according to PFF, while generating 95 pressures, but finishing some of those plays will help wreak even more havoc in the backfield.

But, players like Leonard Floyd and Maliek Collins will be equally as important in generating pressure from other places on the defensive line, creating a two-fold attack with 1-on-1 opportunities.

Rodgers is a savant when it comes to the quick game, which will make it hard at times to generate pressure, but the 49ers need to capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves on Monday.

Turnovers: When it comes to a tight-knit defensive battle like Monday’s could end up being, turnovers can have an even bigger emphasis.

Last season, the 49ers and Jets were among the top 10 teams when it came to takeaways, with the former forcing 28 (T-5th in NFL) and the latter forcing 27 (T-8th in NFL).

San Francisco’s defense is even stronger in the secondary, adding cornerbacks Isaac Yiadom and Renardo Green to the elite duo of Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, which should only help their turnover luck.

On the other hand, New York had one of the best passing defenses in the league, thanks to the duo of Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, while also creating a strong pass rush that made things difficult for opposing quarterbacks.

Rodgers and Brock Purdy are both quarterbacks who aren’t afraid to take their shots, which could lead to some more volatility in Week 1, so the turnover battle will be an important factor on Monday’s game.

Both teams also possess elite running backs that rarely turn over the football, putting more of an emphasis on the passing game.

Lean on the backs: The 49ers are entering an interesting week to start the year, as they’re ramping up both star wideout Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams, with contingency plans in case to rotate both players if necessary.

However, they also have been battling some key injuries, with star running back Christian McCaffrey coming back from a calf injury that sidelined him for the second half of training camp.

McCaffrey has expressed zero concerns with his injury this week, which is a good sign because the 49ers should test New York’s defensive front in the run game this week.

The Jets lost edge rusher Bryce Huff this offseason and won’t have Haason Reddick back for Week 1, while they’re adding Javon Kinlaw to the fold as a starter on the interior.

Against a tough passing defense, the 49ers should rely on their strengths and lean on Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason in Week 1, looking to move the ball downfield methodically, while still finding ways to create explosive plays.

Similarly, the Jets should test out the weaker side of the 49ers’ defense: their run defense.

San Francisco released top run defender Arik Armstead in the offseason, replacing him with the duo of Maliek Collins and Jordan Elliott to work alongside Javon Hargrave.

The Jets should test out that new front with their own star running back, which could help them stretch the field with the passing game.

The team that sees better success on the ground could end up being the winning team here in Week 1.