This morning, ESPN announced that the San Francisco 49ers would kick off their 2024 regular season with a Monday Night Football showdown against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium.
Several storylines add intrigue to this matchup, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers' quest to defeat the team that has bested him in all four postseason meetings and Jets head coach Robert Saleh facing his former boss, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Early betting odds from DraftKings Sportsbook favor the 49ers significantly, with a 5.5-point spread over the Jets, who will journey to Levi's Stadium for the September 9 clash. The over/under on points is currently set at 46.5. Some other sportsbooks even favor the 49ers by more.
The 49ers will host Aaron Rodgers and the Jets to open the 2024 NFL season.
This is what the future HOF QB usually looks like after doing battle with the Red & Gold 😈 pic.twitter.com/crItvqpiOy
— KNBR (@KNBR) May 14, 2024
San Francisco is coming off a Super Bowl appearance, having lost in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs. Meanwhile, the Jets finished last season with a 7-10 record after Rodgers sustained a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in the opening minutes of Week 1. While there was speculation about his potential return later in the season, the Jets dismissed the idea after being eliminated from playoff contention.
Last season, the Jets boasted the third-ranked defense in the NFL, while the 49ers possessed the second-ranked offense. Rodgers and the Jets will aim to prove they can be legitimate contenders in their bout against the reigning NFC champions.