Jets' defense gets a big F in Week 1 loss to 49ers
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason, left, runs against New York Jets safety Tony Adams (22) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Credit: AP/Godofredo A. Vásquez
OFFENSE: C-
Aaron Rodgers flashed some trademark plays, including his first touchdown pass as a Jet on a free play after drawing the 49ers offside, but the best part of his performance (13-for-21, 167 yards) was making it through the night physically. On to Week 2! The two meaningful TD drives were refreshing and maybe the most inspired football we’ve seen from the Jets in a decade, but there were far too many shortcomings elsewhere. Two turnovers — one fumble by Breece Hall and an interception off a tipped pass against Rodgers — were painful, as was the final chance at a comeback when the Jets had third-and-1 near midfield down 26-13 in the fourth. The third-down handoff to Hall was stuffed and a fourth-down pass from Rodgers to Garrett Wilson was broken up.
DEFENSE: F
The supposed strength of the Jets turned out to be its biggest weakness, even with the reigning offensive player of the year on the sideline. Jordan Mason replaced inactive Christian McCaffrey and ran all over and through the Jets’ front (147 yards and a TD on 28 carries) and the 49ers scored points on eight straight possessions. The pass rush was lacking something, or maybe someone, and even when they were pressuring Brock Purdy, the quarterback was able to make plays (19-for-29, 231 yards). The 401 yards allowed were more than the Jets gave up in all but one game last season.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B
Maybe an incomplete would be more apt here. Xavier Gipson had three kickoff returns for 77 yards and returned a punt for 4. Thomas Morstead put two of his three punts inside the 20. The Jets did not attempt a field goal while the 49ers connected on six of them.
COACHING: D
Robert Saleh had months to game-plan against his old boss’s offensive scheme and didn’t come up with anything to stop the Kyle Shanahan running system. The finer points continue to escape the Jets such as untimely penalties and extending for first downs. One oddity: Whenever they showed offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett on the broadcast he didn’t seem to be saying anything into his headset. Maybe that was for the best.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
