Tonight marks the debut of the 2024 NFL season of Monday Night Football, as the New York Jets travel to Santa Clara, California to take on the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are a 4.5-point home favorite according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Last year, the New York Jets had high hopes after signing future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to right the ship. The good feelings lasted only four offensive snaps. Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon and was out for the rest of the year. The Jets’ hopes were immediately dashed and the Jets slogged through a dismal 7-10 season behind a trio of backup quarterbacks. Now, at nearly 41 years old, Rodgers is looking to right the wrongs and lead the Jets to a quantum leap in performance and their best season in a long time. With stars at nearly every position group, this is the most talented Jets team we’ve seen in a long time. The rebuilt offensive line features future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith at left tackle to protect Rodgers’ blind side. Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson give the Jets some super-talented stars at the skill positions. The defense has All-Pro talent at every level. If Rodgers can return healthy and play at the level he’s accustomed to, this could be a frighteningly good Jets team, provided injuries don’t derail the Jets’ season once again. Tonight, the story of the Jets’ 2024 season begins to be written. Only time will tell if this is an epic of heroism or a tragedy of epic proportions.

The Jets’ opponent tonight, the San Francisco 49ers, are every bit as talented as the Jets. Many consider this 49ers team to be the most talented in the NFL. They have four dynamic stars at the skill positions in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. It’s a tall order to expect a defense to shut down all four of those guys. At quarterback, Brock Purdy has been outstanding, especially when the greatest left tackle of all time, Trent Williams, is on the field. On defense, the 49ers, like the Jets, are loaded with talent at every level. With the 49ers playing at home, a win will be a very tough ask for any opponent. However, if there is any hope, it lies in the status of several star players for the 49ers. Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk both held out the entire offseason and only reported for duty the week before this game. Their fitness levels are uncertain and it wouldn’t be a surprise if neither is 100% yet. Additionally, Christian McCaffrey is nursing a lower leg injury that has kept him out of the entire preseason. He is listed as questionable for the game. McCaffrey has vowed to play, but how much of an impact this injury will have on him remains to be seen. Additionally, the 49ers will be without All Pro safety Talanoga Hufanga tonight. That’s a lot of star power with question marks for the 49ers tonight.

The first week of the season is usually incredibly unpredictable. No one knows yet how this season will go. Sometimes teams that look great on paper flop, and teams that also look like crap on paper come out on top. Trying to predict the results of the first week is a fool’s errand. And I am the fool for the task. Yes, the 49ers are playing at home and deserve to be the favorite. Yes, I will probably regret that decision. Still, fools run where angels fear to tread. If I can’t be wildly optimistic about the Jets this year before something bad happens, when can I be? So here we go. The 49ers are feeling the effects of Hufanga’s absence, McCaffrey’s injury, and Williams’ and Aiyuk’s holdouts. Robert Saleh and the Jets enter the lion’s den and ride a rejuvenated Aaron Rodgers and Breece Hall to victory while the home crowd looks on in stunned disbelief. I’m taking the JETS Jets Jets Jets Jets to open the season with a statement game. Jets over the hometown 49ers, odds be damned. If you’re betting, good luck and please consider using our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Christian McCaffrey is a late scratch. Jordan Mason will play Christian McCaffrey for tonight’s performance. Kudos to the NFL writers for the last-minute plot twist.