5 things to watch as Jets face 49ers in Week 1 of 2024 NFL season

The Jets open their season with one of their toughest tests of the season as they face the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

San Francisco lost just three games at home last year, two of which were after they had already clinched a playoff berth. However, New York will be eager to get the 2024 season off to a good start.

Here are some of the biggest stories to watch as the Jets get their regular season campaign underway:

The dawning of the Aaron Rodgers era: Take Two

Last year’s season opener was supposed to mark the start of a new era for Jets football, but Rodgers’ injury on the fourth offensive snap signified that the franchise hadn’t quite put the “Same Old Jets” moniker behind them yet.

We now find ourselves back in the same situation, with Rodgers one year older and returning to action with a surgically repaired Achilles tendon. Is Rodgers still capable of playing like he did in his Packers days? If he is, this could elevate the Jets into contention.

The Jets have added offensive playmakers, bolstered their offensive line depth and have a quarterback, front office and coaching staff that are all on the same page with the season about to get underway. Although Rodgers’ talent is undeniable, his experience, smarts and composure may be even more valuable to a Jets’ team that has been held back by substandard quarterback play for several years.

Will the Jets be able to create pressure without Haason Reddick?

The other big story all offseason was whether Reddick’s holdout would continue into the regular season, and it is now clear that they will need to begin the year without him. In addition, they’ll be facing a team boasting one of the best blindside pass protectors in the NFL in Trent Williams and capable of mitigating pressure through their quick passing game.

The Jets, who also lost John Franklin-Myers and Bryce Huff in the offseason, still have confidence that their pass rush can get home with pro bowlers Jermaine Johnson and Quinnen Williams leading the way. They may be banking on increased contributions from Micheal Clemons and Will McDonald and some additional depth from recent addition Takk McKinley, though.

Can the defense slow down the 49ers’ offensive weapons?

The 49ers are a team with one of the best collections of offensive weapons in the league. Running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle and wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are all capable of having a big game on Monday night.

McCaffrey has been limited with a calf/Achilles injury during the offseason and Aiyuk only just returned from a lengthy holdout, so this group might not be completely at full strength. Nevertheless, there are plenty of playmaking options for quarterback Brock Purdy to target.

The Jets’ trio of cornerbacks – DJ Reed, Sauce Gardner and the recently-extended Michael Carter II – will play a key role, but the Jets may also need players like C.J. Mosley and Chuck Clark to step up and cover McCaffrey and Kittle. In addition, everyone must tackle effectively because this is a team that can do damage with yards after the catch.

Which team will have the most success running the ball?

The 49ers had the NFL’s third-best running game in 2023 whereas the Jets were only ranked 25th in terms of run defense. Even if McCaffrey is limited, this could be a mismatch in San Francisco’s favor, especially if they look to run behind the formidable Williams. However, the Jets will hope to be stouter up front with the 320-pounder Javon Kinlaw inserted into the starting lineup.

Last season, the Jets’ running game was poor, although Breece Hall overcame the inconsistency on the offensive line to rack up 994 rushing yards. They’ll be hoping the additions of Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and John Simpson on the offensive line, together with the return of Alijah Vera-Tucker from injury, will give Hall more room to work with in 2024.

Should the Jets be concerned about Greg Zuerlein?

Veteran kicker Zuerlein has been consistently reliable for the Jets in his two seasons with the team, but it was troubling to see him miss two field goals in the final preseason game.

Zuerlein otherwise played well in preseason, but for him to struggle in his most recent action could be a cause for concern. This could be a tight game that goes down to the wire, so Zuerlein needs to be flawless rather than concerned about his confidence or making technical corrections.