SANTA CLARA – Here is how the 49ers graded in Monday night’s season-opening 32-19 win over the New York Jets:
PASS OFFENSE: B+
Brock Purdy avoided sacks, committed no turnovers, threw for 231 yards (19-of-29) and produced points on each of his eight drives after the opening three-and-out. Brandon Aiyuk’s part-time role was tarnished by an end zone drop, but he did make a third-down conversion amid the second-half scoring spree. Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel each had five receptions and combined for 118 yards. George Kittle chipped in with four catches for 40 yards, and Kyle Juszczyk’s 34-yard reception set up Jordan Mason’s touchdown run. Trent Williams, despite no training camp and just a few practices, did not allow a pressure on 33 pass-blocking snaps and his first such pressure-free game in two years, per NextGen Stats. Right guard Dom Puni acquitted himself well in his NFL debut, too.
RUN OFFENSE: A
Mason filled in admirably for game-time scratch Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) and Mason’s first start in three seasons produced 147 yards on 23 carries, the third-most by a 49ers’ first-time starter. That was all highlighted by a 5-yard touchdown run. The 49ers deployed Deebo Samuel to share the backfield load with Mason, and Samuel’s 20th career rushing touchdown is the most be a NFL receiver since 1960. Racking up 38 carries for 180 yards is the 49ers’ favored recipe for success, even without McCaffrey. “They still have a stable of backs but, at the same time they’re very, very good upfront and from an efficiency standpoint they beat us up front. Plain and simple,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said.
PASS DEFENSE: A
Any win over Aaron Rodgers should be celebrated, even if this didn’t come with the stakes like the 49ers’ 4-0 efforts during his Packers tenure. Rodgers had a couple of nice throws (13-of-21, 167 yards) and his touchdown pass to Allen Lazard beat safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and George Odum. But Rodgers didn’t look like a four-time MVP, and his lone interception came when Deommodore Lenior broke up a pass that Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles snared. The 49ers’ pass rush only produced one sack, but it was a doozy of things to come this season: Nick Bosa beat the left tackle (Tyron Smith, who was called for holding) while Leonard Floyd crashed from the other side to drop Rodgers on third down. The 49ers’ other takeaway came when Fred Warner punched the ball free from Breece Hall and Maliek Collins recovered on the Jets’ fourth snap (last year, Rodgers’ Achilles was torn on snap No. 4).
RUN DEFENSE: A
The 49ers yielded the second-fewest rushing yards of any defense in Week 1, allowing 68 on 19 carries. A 3-yard, first-quarter touchdown run by Hall seemed like the 49ers were simply being a kind host. Then they tightened the screws defensively. Warner (seven tackles) and De’Vondre Cambell (five tackles) thrived behind the new interior tandem of Collins and Javon Hargrave. Collins had two tackles for no gain and the fumble recovery.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Related Articles
Jordan Mason breaks out on Monday Night Football, then creates confusion in press conference
Aaron Rodgers ‘thankful’ for return from Achilles tear despite loss to 49ers
What the 49ers said after beating the Jets to open their season
49ers Studs and Duds: Jordan Mason and a standout rookie dominate the Jets
Instant analysis: 49ers beat Jets 32-19 as Mason excels in McCaffrey’s place; Niners’ defense mutes Rodgers
Jake Moody made all six of his field-goal attempts (46, 51, 31, 53, 23, 42 yards) to match a 49ers’ record and bolster his confidence – and the 49ers’ belief in him — after a shaky end to his rookie season. Nothing alarming came from the NFL’s new kickoff rules. Of the 49ers’ nine kickoffs – nine! – six were touchbacks, and none of the three returned went for longer than 28 yards. All four of the Jets’ kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. Mitch Wishnowsky punted only once (58 yards on the opening series).
COACHING: A
Neither Shanahan nor Purdy said they knew they had scored on eight straight possessions. That should tell you the rhythm and mindset of what Samuel called a “move-the-ball offense” intended to keep churning out yards and points of any kind. Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen called a flawless game in his debut, Warner claimed. How to explain a lopsided win after seven drama-filled months? “Some crazy stuff can go on, but just our culture, our team, what we stand for and how we all come together and find ways to win and rally around each other — we do it right here,” Purdy said.