49ers vs Jets News: 3 Keys to SF's Victory Against New York in Week 1

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

A lot has changed since the two teams last faced each other in 2020. It was a disastrous game at MetLife Stadium, where the 49ers won 31-13 but struggled with 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 with a win but face a tough task as quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns to the lineup after an Achilles injury sustained in Week 1 of last year.

Before the game, the 49ers are considered favorites by 4.5 points according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over/under limit set 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 season under head coach Robert Saleh in 2023. Rodgers brings them back and they also signed several players in the offseason in hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

New York has one of the best defenses in the NFL, ranking third in yards allowed per game in 2023, and will hopefully have a stronger offense to support it in 2024.

Last season, the Jets were led by star running back Breece Hall, who nearly had a 1,000-yard season but fell just six yards short while averaging just 4.5 yards per carry. He's hoping for a more successful year in 2023, working under Rodgers alongside a (hopefully) stronger passing attack.

New York's offense is led by star receiver Garrett Wilson, who posted two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons early in his career despite subpar quarterbacks. He's hoping for an even bigger season in 2024 as he's a clear target for Aaron Rodgers.

Key to the game

Pressure on the quarterback: The Jets wanted to renew their offensive line in the offseason and strengthened the outside positions with tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. They also signed guard John Simpson and drafted Olu Fashanu from Penn State with the number 11 pick.

In Week 1, the 49ers should look to attack this new group with their revamped pass rush and put pressure on the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers is recovering from a serious Achilles injury and will enter his 41st season in 2024, raising questions about his mobility.

If the 49ers manage to close the pocket regularly on Monday night, they should make life difficult for Rodgers and Co.

That starts with star Nick Bosa, who tallied 10.5 sacks in 2023 after having a stellar year in 2022 in which he tallied 18.5 sacks and received a massive, long-term contract extension. Well, he still had a great season, winning 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.

However, players like Leonard Floyd and Maliek Collins will be just as important in creating pressure from other areas of the defensive line and enabling a two-pronged attack with 1-on-1 opportunities.

Rodgers is an expert at playing fast, which will make it difficult for him to generate pressure at times, but the 49ers will have to take advantage of opportunities when they arise on Monday.

Sales: When there is a tough defensive battle, as there could be on Monday, turnovers can play an even bigger role.

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

San Francisco's defense is even stronger in the secondary and was able to expand the elite duo of Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir with cornerbacks Isaac Yiadom and Renardo Green, which should only benefit their luck in losing turnovers.

On the other hand, New York had one of the best pass defenses in the league thanks to the duo Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed and was also able to generate a strong pass rush that made things difficult for opposing quarterbacks.

Rodgers and Brock Purdy are both quarterbacks who aren't afraid to make their throws, which could lead to a little more volatility in Week 1. So battling turnovers will be a big factor in Monday's game.

Both teams also have top-notch running backs who rarely lose the ball and place more emphasis on passing.

Lean on your back: The 49ers are entering the new year with an interesting week as they add both star wideout Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams to the team, with contingency plans to rotate both players if necessary.

However, they also had to deal with some key injuries. Star running back Christian McCaffrey recovered from a calf injury that sidelined him for the second half of training camp.

McCaffrey has not expressed any concerns about his injury this week, which is a good sign as the 49ers should test New York's defensive front in the running game this week.

The Jets lost edge rusher Bryce Huff in the offseason and will be without Haason Reddick in Week 1, but they will bring in Javon Kinlaw as a starter on the inside.

Against a strong pass defense, the 49ers should rely on their strengths and rely on Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason in Week 1. They should try to move the ball forward methodically, but still find ways to create explosive plays.

Likewise, the Jets should test the weaker side of the 49ers defense: their run defense.

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

The Jets should test this new front with their own star running back, who could help them spread the field with their passing game.

The team that is more successful on the ground could be the winning team at the end of the first week.