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Winners and losers as 49ers beat Jets 32-19 on Monday Night Football – NBC Bay Area
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Winners and losers as 49ers beat Jets 32-19 on Monday Night Football – NBC Bay Area

The 49ers’ first week concluded with a good old-fashioned American football game on Monday Night Football.

San Francisco, without reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, dominated the New York Jets 32-19, spoiling Aaron Rodgers’ comeback from last season’s Achilles tear.

Jordan Mason replaced McCaffrey as the starting running back, making up for the star’s absence. The Jets fielded an elite defense last season, but they had no answers because Brock Purdy didn’t have much to do.

The scoreboard read 32-13 until the Jets scored another touchdown with 25 seconds left, but they missed the two-point conversion, their second missed attempt of the night.

Let’s analyze the game further with five winners and losers:

WINNER: Jordan Mason, 49ers

One cut, one stomp, it didn’t matter. No matter how Mason ran, he got what he wanted. The 25-year-old, who went undrafted in 2022, recorded 28 carries for 147 yards and one touchdown, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt and a long of 24. He also had a run return of 17 yards.

The 49ers may now feel more comfortable with McCaffrey on the sidelines for a bit longer, especially with the Minnesota Vikings turf next up. Deebo Samuel also had eight carries where he ran for 23 yards and a touchdown within a few yards.

LOSER: Aaron Rodgers, Jets

Rodgers showed flashes of his brilliant past, but the current 49ers defense eventually gave up after a shaky start. The 40-year-old completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked just once.

New York’s run game also didn’t offer much support, with Breece Hall struggling until the final drive when substitutions were made. Hall also fumbled early when Fred Warner knocked the ball out.

Still, this wasn’t the debut Rodgers and the Jets had hoped for, but it’s a long season and the 49ers are contenders for a reason.

WINNER: Jake Moody, 49ers

San Francisco could have — and should have — decided the game much sooner than it did. But second-year kicker Moody started the season in perfect shape after a tough rookie campaign.

Moody connected on all six field-goal attempts — including a doink — and made two of two extra points. His longest of the day was 53 yards. He actually scored more points (20 total) than the Jets had before garbage time.

LOSER: Robert Saleh, Jets

Saleh built a name for himself as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator with smart decisions and adjustments, as well as incredible energy on the sidelines. This was his first game against the 49ers since leaving to become New York’s head coach, but he had to deliver much more.

Saleh should still be given time once Rodgers is fit again, but if the Jets don’t perform like serious contenders over the next three to four weeks, talks may take place.

WINNER: Nick Sorensen, 49ers

With Mason as the 49ers’ star on offense, the defensive star was the new coordinator. Sorensen, who joined the team two seasons ago and served in assistant roles, made his debut as defensive coordinator in place of Steve Wilks, the polarizing veteran coach from last season.

Sorensen’s unit got off to a rocky start, aside from Warner’s forced fumble and when Rodgers and Garrett Wilson got going, but action was taken quickly and the Jets went no further.

Replacing Dre Greenlaw’s production will be a critical miss, but Sorensen was optimistic about his game assumptions. It will be an interesting spectacle to watch, with a tough schedule the rest of the season.