The San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets will kick off their respective seasons a week from tonight at Levi's Stadium, with the game set to be broadcast nationally on ABC and ESPN.
This marks only the second time these two franchises have opened the season against each other. Their first meeting, back in 1996, was a memorable one, with the Niners and Jets combining for over a thousand yards of offense. The game ended with a thrilling 96-yard touchdown run by Garrison Hearst, securing a 34-31 overtime victory for the 49ers.
This year's contest, however, is projected to be a lower-scoring affair.
The Jets boast arguably the league's best defense, allowing just 292 yards per game last year. Quinnen Williams, one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the game, anchors their young and talented defensive line, while Sauce Gardner ranks among the NFL's top cover corners.
Las Vegas oddsmakers have the 49ers as four-point favorites, with an over/under set at 44 points. Experts anticipate a 24-20 type of game.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed nearly all of last season with a torn Achilles. Now, Rodgers, a sure-fire, first-ballot Hall of Famer, is healthy again, which spells trouble for opposing defenses.
Without Rodgers last year, the Jets' offense struggled mightily. A healthy Rodgers should keep the offense on the field longer and give the Jets a legitimate shot at postseason play.
Newly acquired 49ers pass rusher Leonard Floyd is well-acquainted with Rodgers. The two faced off against each other twice a year when Leonard was with the Bears and Rodgers with the Packers.
"My scouting report is he's a legendary quarterback, and you have to bring your 'A' game because he's the type where he'll embarrass you," Floyd said. "If you give him some momentum, he's going to carry that momentum for the whole game."
Throughout his career, Rodgers has torched the league. However, he has not fared well against San Francisco. During his time in Green Bay, he was 6-7 all-time against the Niners, including 0-4 in the playoffs.
Last season, the Jets finished in the bottom four in both pass and run block win rates. To address this, they've invested heavily in a revamped offensive line, adding three linemen in free agency and drafting Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu in the first round.
Garret Wilson paced the Jets with 95 catches, good for 1,042 yards last year. Meanwhile, breakaway threat Breece Hall rushed for a team-leading 994 yards.
As of this writing, 49ers All-Pro tackle Trent Williams remains in a contract dispute and is holding out. On the other side, Haasan Reddick, the Jets' premier pass rusher acquired via trade from the Eagles this offseason, is also holding out.
49ers fans will remember Reddick as the edge rusher who got a free run on Brock Purdy in the 2022 NFC title game, leading to the injury that ended Purdy's season and dashed the Niners' Super Bowl hopes.
The injury to Purdy's UCL joint required offseason surgery. Fortunately, he returned healthy and highly productive, passing for a single-season franchise record of 4,280 yards and bringing the 49ers oh-so-close to a win in last season's Super Bowl.
The 49ers' quest for their sixth Super Bowl ring renews next week in what promises to be a defense-dominated affair.