No CMC, No Problem: 49ers dominate Jets in 32-19 MNF victory to open 2024 season

Sep 9, 2024, 8:08 PM | Updated: Sep 10, 2024, 9:19 am

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. #1 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with touchdown with teammates after scoring against the New York Jets during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on September 09, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

Amidst all the offseason drama and speculation, even losing their star player hours before kickoff, it doesn’t matter: The 49ers stay winning.

The San Francisco 49ers handled business on Monday Night Football, defeating the New York Jets, 32-19, to open the 2024 NFL season. In a game that saw the Jets hit paydirt first, the 49ers quickly adjusted, holding the visitors to 12 points total after the first quarter.

A combination of offensive and defensive prowess got the job done Monday night, as well as the leg of kicker Jake Moody, converting six field goals and two PATs to make it a comfortable win for the 49ers. The ball was ever in his favor Week 1, including a doink off the left crossbar that fell through the uprights from 53 yards away.

49ers vs. Jets notes & recap

But in the end, its was the play of backup running back Jordan Mason that caught people’s attention. Filling in for McCaffrey, the third-year tailback finished with 29 touches for 153 total yards and one touchdown, career-high marks across the board. On top of the numbers, Mason showed the world his evolved skills, finding creases in the New York defense all night long, falling forward very chance the could.

Other standouts on the night include linebacker Fred Warner, creating the first turnover of the game in the first quarter.

After a three-and-out to start the game for the 49ers offense, the defensive captain gave his teammates the ball back thanks to nifty punch-out. Jets’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit RB Breece Hall on a pitch pass for a small gain. But while he was working through the traffic, Warner came in like a bat out of hell, thumping the ball out of Hall’s hands. The rock hit the turf, with defensive tackle Maliek Collins picking up the fumble at the Jets’ 32-yard-line.

Warner, 27, finished Week 1 with seven combined tackles and a forced fumble.

Deommodore Lenoir was another standout for the 49ers in Week 1.

The cornerback finished with four tackles and one pass break-up that seemingly sealed the win for the 49ers. In the third quarter, Lenoir tipped a second-down pass intended for wide receiver Garrett Wilson into the air. The ball fell near LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, able to swoop under it and come up with the interception at the 6:18 mark of the quarter.

While the 49ers would be forced to settle for a field goal, that turnover demoralized the Jets furthermore into an eventual loss Week 1.

The real indicator of dominance for the Red & Gold was time of possession. San Francisco was able to control the contest with 38:40 minutes of offense, including multiple scoring drives over four minutes. The real clock-killer came at the end of the second quarter. With more than five minutes left in the half, Kyle Shanahan’s offense kept the ball moving enough to secure three points, leaving only four seconds on the game clock.

The 49ers would follow that up with a 7:18-minute drive that ended with a Jordan Mason five-yard score. 10 points in two possessions, burning 12:32 of game clock. The Shanahan lapping was complete, dictating the pace of the second half.