Three keys to victory as the 49ers face Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets

The last time the 49ers were on the field at Levi's Stadium, ended with a shower of confetti and the George Halas Trophy.

When they take the field on Monday night, they'll be looking for their first win since that game. In between, there was a devastating Super Bowl loss, the drama of a wide receiver hold-in, the unexpectedness of a left tackle hold-out, and an absolutely shocking decision by their first-round draft pick.

Needless to say, a lot has happened since that game on January 28th in the NFC Championship Game. San Francisco will host known opponent Aaron Rodgers and the Jets in their Week 1 game. The hype surrounding this game could rival a Hollywood movie. While the 49ers demand attention, Rodgers is on another level.

As a Jet, he played just four snaps before his season ended with an Achilles injury. Rodgers is the most polarizing player in the league and all eyes will be on this game as he plays in what could be his final season opener. Rodgers is no stranger to the 49ers. He has played against them nine times in the regular season (6-3) and another four times in the postseason (0-4).

San Francisco started 5-0 last year and finished with a trip to Las Vegas to play for the Lombardi Trophy. A win in that game would put to rest many offseason rumors. Here are three keys to a Niners win against the Jets.

Shake off the rust

If the 49ers offense goes out there and scores 30 points like they did in half of their regular season games in 2023, they might be able to beat back the confetti rain. The Niners' biggest concern heading into this game is the lack of preseason games for Brandon Aiyuk And Trent Williams due to lengthy contract negotiations.

None of the players took part in the training camp or pre-season training. Aiyuk was physically presentbut reportedly suffered from back and neck pain. That was code for wanting more money from the team. Williams decided in minicamp that he wanted more security, with no guaranteed money in his old contract. Nick Bosa did something similar last season and admitted it contributed to a slow start to his season.

Aiyuk claims, “I'm ready,” but he'll be facing All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner of the Jets. The Niners' offense was out of rhythm at times last year. With the team's star left tackle and WR1 out for the past month, Brock Purdy could be the casualty. Fortunately, both players have been in top shape, but their lack of physical practice could be a problem. It's OK to start slow as long as they get rid of the rest by the second quarter.

Limited Breece Hall

If the 49ers had a weakness last year, it was their run defense. It was clearly visible in the last game at Levi's when the Lions ran 182 yards. They ranked 15th in Run DVOA and were 14th in rushing percentage at 4.1 yards per carry. Those numbers played a role in the release of Arik Armstead and the signing of run-stopper Maliek Collins from the Houston Texans.

Aaron Rodgers will draw media attention, but Breece Hall could be the darling of this game. In his first full season in 2023, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry. The Jets made a point of strengthening their offensive line in free agency, bringing in eight-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith as left tackle, trading for Morgan Moses and signing John Simpson

It could mean trouble for the Niners defense, which Dre Greenlaw is missing in the middle of the field and possibly without run-stopping security Talanoa Hufanga who is slowly recovering from a cruciate ligament tear. The team's ground fighter, Christian McCaffrey, is also questionable with sore calf and Achilles tendon.

Hall rushed for 178 yards in one game last year and only six in another. I don't think the Niners can hold him under 10 in this game, but under 100 should be enough.

Put pressure on Aaron Rodgers

On a bitterly cold night at Lambeau in 2022, Rodgers took to the field five times. The 49ers were the ones who took him down as they pulled off a huge upset in the 2022 NFC Divisional game, allowing just 10 points to the Green Bay Packers. That was the last time Rodgers saw the Niners, and they're hoping for a similar result.

John Lynch and the front office invested in Leonard Floyd to pair him with Nick Bosa, hoping to get double-digit sack numbers from both of them. Floyd has moved between Los Angeles and Buffalo in recent years, but has recorded at least nine sacks in four consecutive years.

It's almost eerie that Floyd will be making his debut in this game. He was the man who sacked Rodgers in Week 1 on Monday Night Football last year, ending the future Hall of Famer's season. Rodgers hasn't played in a game in a year, and if he's given little time to throw, Mooney Ward and Deommodore Lenoir can join Stickum as the Jets' wide receivers.

Statistics of the game

Kyle Shanahan has won just 3 of 4 season openers since taking over as the 49ers' head coach in 2017. In those seven seasons, he has only opened the year twice at Levi's Stadium, but lost both times, in 2017 and 2020.

Quote of the week

Mooney Ward is looking forward to playing against Rodgers and hopes to add a memorabilia to his trophy case when he intercepts a pass from the Jets QB.

“If it's a Hall of Fame quarterback, I would definitely like to have the ball in my hands,” he said. “If I get my hands on it, [I’d ask Rodgers to] sign it for me.”

Good luck getting that signature at the 50-yard line after the game, Mooney.