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49ers spoil Aaron Rodgers' return from Achilles injury with dominant 32-19 win on “Monday Night Football”

Aaron Rodgers' return on Monday night did not go quite according to plan.

The San Francisco 49ers rolled over Rodgers and the New York Jets on Monday night to end the opening week of the 2024 NFL season. The 49ers took a clear 32-19 victory at Levi's Stadium, even without star running back Christian McCaffrey, who was taken out of the game about an hour and a half before kickoff due to a calf injury.

San Francisco went into halftime with a 16-7 lead, thanks to three deep field goals by Jake Moody and a 2-yard touchdown run by Deebo Samuel Sr. in the second quarter. It could have been more, but 49ers star receiver Brandon Aiyuk dropped a very catchable touchdown pass just before halftime — something that extremely frustrated Peyton Manning on ESPN 2.

The 49ers quickly scored another 10 points in the third quarter thanks to a long 11-play drive that capped off with a 5-yard touchdown run by Jordan Mason. Rogers, who lasted just four plays last season before suffering an Achilles injury, threw his first touchdown pass of the game late in the third quarter. He hit his former Green Bay Packers teammate Allen Lazard for a 36-yard touchdown pass right down the middle after drawing an offside call. It was his first touchdown pass in more than 600 days.

But Moody made two field goals in the fourth quarter, giving him six field goals on the night, to keep the Jets at bay and lead San Francisco to a 13-point victory. The Jets scored one final touchdown in the final minute, with backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Rodgers was replaced in the final minutes after the Jets threw in the towel.

Brock Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards for the 49ers in the win. Mason, who filled in for McCaffrey, ran for 147 yards and scored a touchdown on 28 attempts. Jauan Jennings had five catches for 64 yards.

Rogers completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Jets. Breece Hall, who scored in the first half, had 54 rushing yards on 16 carries. Lazard finished with a game-high 89 receiving yards and two touchdowns on six catches.

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  • Game over. 49ers win 32:19. A statement game for the 49ers. Lots of questions for a Jets team with high expectations.

    Jordan Mason is a Week 1 star filling in for Christian McCaffrey. The rookie running back rushed 28 times for 147 yards (5.3 YPA) and a touchdown in his NFL debut. If McCaffrey stays healthy, this could be a godsend for the 49ers.

    Jake Moody made six more field goals as the 49ers scored on eight consecutive drives to win the game.

    San Francisco dominated on both sides of the ball, limiting Breece Hall to 54 yards on 16 carries (3.4 YPA). The 49ers won the time of possession battle 38-10-21-20 and outgained the Jets on the ground 180 to 68 yards.

    Aaron Rodgers completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards with one touchdown and one interception in his successful debut for the Jets. Brock Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards without a touchdown or turnover. Both of San Francisco's touchdowns came on the ground.

    The 49ers visit the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2. The Jets visit the Tennessee Titans.

  • Tyrod Taylor finds Allen Lazard for a touchdown in overtime, cutting San Francisco's lead to 32-19. With 25 seconds left, Aaron Rodgers is on the bench. There's not much to cheer about for the Jets tonight.

  • The 49ers burn 3:02 and score three more points with Jake Moody's sixth field goal of the night. San Francisco leads 32-13 with 4:20 left, having scored on eight consecutive possessions. The game is as good as over.

  • Breece Hall was under pressure all night. The 49ers stopped him on third and one, then Aaron Rodgers threw an incomplete on fourth down. The 49ers took the lead on downs in the middle of the field and led 29-13 with 7:22 left in regulation.

  • After a timeout, the 49ers send their field goal unit onto the field. Jake Moody scores from 23 yards and extends San Francisco's lead to 29-13. Moody's fifth field goal of the evening. Still a two-possession game, but the Jets need two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to tie. 9:43 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

  • The Jets stop the 49ers one yard from first down at the 5-yard line. The 49ers line up as if they want to go for fourth down.

  • Good stats here. Brock Purdy had no problems most of the night.

  • Now the 49ers are inside the Jets' 15-yard line. Aiyuk with a nice sideline catch from Purdy.

  • Brock Purdy finds Deebo Samuel for a 26-yard gain and the 49ers are back within scoring range at the Jets' 32-yard line.

  • New York hits back with a five-play touchdown drive. Aaron Rodgers gets a free kick after a pre-snap penalty and finds Allen Lazard with a 36-yard touchdown pass. Breece Hall's 2-point conversion isn't enough. The Jets cut the 49ers' lead to 26-13. The game isn't over yet.

  • Jake Moody scores his fourth field goal of the night. It bounces off the left post and lands from 53 yards. San Francisco leads 26-7. Everything is pointing to the 49ers.

  • If Christian McCaffrey ends up playing well, his absence tonight could be a blessing in disguise for the 49ers. Jordan Mason is having a breakout season in his NFL debut. Just rushed 11 yards for a first down on second-and-10. 101 yards on 5.3 yards per carry with a touchdown midway through the third quarter.

  • Aaron Rodgers is intercepted. Deommodore Lenoir knocks off a ball intended for Garrett Wilson and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles intercepts it. The 49ers have a chance to completely decide the game.

  • Jordan Mason converts the opportunity into his first touchdown. The 49ers cover 70 yards at the start of the second half and take a 23-7 lead. San Francisco's offense is running at full speed despite Christian McCaffrey's absence.

  • San Francisco is knocking on the door. Brock Purdy throws a play-action pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who catches the ball at the Jets' 5-yard line for a 34-yard gain.

  • The 49ers move the ball again. A third down run by Jordan Mason provides a first down inside New York's 35-yard line.

  • Sauce Gardner is back in the game after sitting out late in the first half. It's unclear why he wasn't on the field.

  • The 49ers kick off the second half with a 16-7 lead.

  • Here is the Aiyuk drop next to a ranting Peyton Manning:

  • Notable statistics from the first half:

    Aaron Rodgers: 7 of 11 for 64 yards without touchdowns or turnovers
    Garret Wilson: 4 catches for 46 yards
    Breece Hall: 10 runs over 25 yards, 1 touchdown

    Brock Purdy: 9 of 16 for 106 yards, no touchdowns or turnovers
    Jordan Mason: 11 runs for 74 yards, 1 catch for 5 yards
    Brandon Aiyuk: 1 catch for 14 yards, 1 drop in the end zone

    Jets storm: 24 yards at 2.2 yards per run
    49ers on the attack: 104 yards at 5.2 yards per run

    San Francisco is running Breece Hall and the Jets' running game. Jordan Mason, meanwhile, is admirably filling in for Christian McCaffrey to keep the 49ers' offense going. Run differential is the biggest difference in the game in the first half.

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