Week 1 pregame: Jets open season in Monday Night redux

Everything you need to know ahead of tonight's season opener between the Jets and 49ers. Plus, weekly odds and game predictions!

Rich MacLeod

Sep 09, 2024

What’s Up with the Jets? 🛩️

The Jets open their 2024-25 season tonight against the 49ers on Monday Night Football
QB Aaron Rodgers is set to make his highly anticipated first full start for the team after tearing his Achilles four plays into last year’s season opener
Rodgers recently sat down with fellow 2005 NFL Draft pick Alex Smith to talk about his injury recovery and mindset heading into this season (ESPN)
DE Haason Reddick continues to hold out for a contract extension and will miss Week 1
WR Garrett Wilson looks to become the first wide receiver in Jets history to start his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons
49ers star RB Christian McCaffrey was listed as questionable with a calf injury but is expected to suit up and play tonight
New York is seeking their first winning season in nine years (2015-16) and first postseason berth in 13 years (2010-11)
The Jets are 3-11 vs the 49ers all-time, last winning a head-to-head match-up in 2016 by a 23-17 score

Injury Report 🏥

❌ OUT

LB Zaire Barnes (ankle)
OL Wes Schweitzer (hand)

Today’s Game 🗓

Match-up: Jets (0-0) at 49ers (0-0)

Where: Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, CA

When: 8:20 PM EDT

Where to Watch: ABC, ESPN

The Odds 🎲

ESPN Analytics: Jets 36.5% chance to win

Line: Jets +3.5

Over/Under: 43.5 points

Postseason Odds: -175

Super Bowl Odds: +1900

Our Predictions 🔮

Rich MacLeod

We’re finally here! The long-awaited Jets season opener is upon us, and after how quickly things ended last season it feels as if this one has truly been two years in the making.

The Jets may very well have the toughest game on their schedule for the entire year here in Week 1, and I could see this thing going either way in a multitude of fashions. All eyes will be on Aaron Rodgers, who Jets fans will watch with baited breath as the sports PTSD of last season will show it’s ugly face anytime a defender gets anywhere near him. Injury worries aside, it will be fascinating to see how rusty he does or doesn’t look after essentially not playing since the end of the 2022-23 season and not appearing in a game this preseason.

While there are certainly some questions – and not having Haason Reddick who continues to voluntarily give his game checks away doesn’t help – I do find myself feeling optimistic going into this one. Perhaps I’m really buying into the talent that this roster has, or maybe I just feel like the universe owes this franchise for once.

Either way, while I don’t think it’s going to be easy, I think the Jets ultimately win this opening week war of attrition and start things off with a bang.

Score: Jets 24, 49ers 17

Ryan Marcone

The Jets begin their season in a Monday Night Primetime game, against a marquee opponent, in what feels like the most anticipated New York Jets game, and season, in almost a decade...stop me if you've heard this all before. But this year's opener won't repeat last year's nightmare, and the Jets will get through the game with their signal caller intact. However, I am expecting a little game rust from Rodgers after not playing in the preseason and missing all of last year.

The 49ers defense provides a heavy week one challenge, and the Jets' new offensive line will be tested early with the likes of last season's nemesis Leonard Floyd and all-world pass rusher Nick Bosa. Plus, it looks like Christian McCaffrey should be a full go, and the Niners got some good news with the return of LT Trent Williams and the extension of one of the best WR2's in the game in Brandon Aiyuk. The Jets stay in this one late, but the 49ers on the road are ultimately too good of a team for the Jets to overcome in an opener where they may be searching to shake some ring rust.

Score: 49ers 24, Jets 20

Ras Guevara

I believe Aaron Rodgers will look to set the tone early and chart the course for our season with a resounding win in San Francisco. Despite the turmoil caused by the Haason Reddick situation, we had a relatively clean camp. The same cannot be said for the 49ers, who will need to integrate three massive offensive players (Williams, Aiyuk, and McCaffrey) against one of the top defenses in the NFL. Plus, they had a player who was literally shot in the chest. Drama-filled camps do not usually translate to a strong start to the season. As long as the offense can run the ball and play a turnover-free game, I think the Jets will win this one and surprisingly comfortably. Massive game for Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson incoming…

Score: Jets 28, 49ers 14

Mark Levine

This will probably be the most difficult game to predict for the Jets all season. After not playing in live game action since Week 1 of last year, how much rust will Aaron Rodgers need to knock off? The Jets are also somewhat thin at wide receiver, with Mike Williams expected to be on a snap count. The 49ers have their share of uncertainty coming into Week 1 as well. What will their offense look like with Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk missing all of training camp, and Christian McCaffrey coming off of his calf injury? The loss of Arik Armstead and the much-improved Jets offensive line should make things easy for Breece Hall, who I think will be the difference in this game. I predict it will be very close, but the Jets pull this one out.

Score: Jets 20, 49ers 17