The San Francisco 49ers followed up their turbulent offseason with an impressive 32-19 victory over the New York Jets. Surprisingly, the team was without star running back Christian McCaffrey, but Jordan Mason stepped up with a breakout performance, rushing for 147 yards.
The 49ers defense dominated, stifling quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Super Bowl-hopeful Jets, allowing just 68 rushing yards. Linebacker Fred Warner led the charge, forcing crucial turnovers throughout the game.
"I was really happy watching the defense from the sidelines," head coach Kyle Shanahan said during his post-game presser. "I thought they were running and hitting. That's the thing that jumps out the most. They got a few big plays on us on a couple drives that got them moving. But for the most part, I thought we were winning most of the downs."
Despite the offseason challenges, San Francisco appeared in midseason form, picking up where it left off last year.
"Still got a long way to go," Shanahan commented. "Today by no means was perfect. There were some parts that were sloppy but just overall, all three phases played really well together."
Next up for the 49ers is a road game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 15.
What does the national media think about the 49ers compared to the rest of the league? Below is a sample of some of the most prominent power rankings from around the web, showing where San Francisco currently stands in each. The highest rankings are listed first.
The Athletic
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Ranking: 5
"Christian McCaffrey was inactive Monday night because of a lingering calf strain. That would sink most teams. These 49ers aren't most teams. They survived a drama-filled preseason. Heck, they thrived. Coach Kyle Shanahan plugged in third-year running back Jordan Mason, a former undrafted free agent, in place of McCaffrey, and Mason carried the ball 28 times for 147 yards against what was one of the league's best defenses in 2023. Newly super-rich wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk had only two catches, and the Niners still scored on eight straight drives. No wonder San Francisco wasn't bending over backward to meet all his demands." — Josh Kendall
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Ranking: 3
"They are right back as the elite team in the NFC. They mauled the Jets in every way. They are so well coached and so talented." — Pete Prisco
ESPN
Current Ranking: 2
Preseason Ranking: 3
"Best newcomer performance: DE Leonard Floyd. San Francisco signed Floyd in free agency to be the down-to-down complement to DE Nick Bosa that it hasn't had since Dee Ford in 2019. The early returns were good Monday night. Floyd finished with two tackles, one sack, one stuff and one pressure that led to an interception vs. Jets QB Aaron Rodgers." — Nick Wagoner
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Ranking: 2
"Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) sat this one out. His backup, Jordan Mason, ran for a career-high 147 yards, more than doubling his previous best. Mind you, two of the 49ers' stars, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams, didn't have the benefit of training camp due to contract disputes and clearly were still gearing up. (Williams hit the locker room at one point in the fourth quarter to receive IV fluids, according to the ESPN broadcast.) Yet all the Niners did was carve away at a supposedly stout Jets defense for most of Monday night's contest, to the tune of 32 points, scoring on eight straight drives. The only mild disappointment was settling for six field goals, but Kyle Shanahan coached a gem of a game. He pounded those inside runs with Mason and kept the Jets off balance with his substitutions. Death by papercuts. Now imagine what this team can do at full strength." — Eric Edholm
Sporting News
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Ranking: 2
"The 49ers took care of Brock Purdy's key supporting cast and now can focus on Christian McCaffrey's health being their biggest offensive concern. The defense made its own statement vs. the Jets on Monday night." — Vinnie Iyer
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Ranking: 3
"Most teams would miss the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. Not the 49ers. They just gave Jordan Mason his first career start and the offense didn't suffer. The way the 49ers dominated the Jets on Monday night was impressive." — Frank Schwab
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 3
Previous Ranking: 3
"No Christian McCaffrey? No problem. For most NFL teams, losing arguably their most dangerous offensive player just before the game would be a death knell. But in San Francisco's dismantling of the New York Jets, McCaffrey was barely missed—largely because of the running of third-year pro Jordan Mason. Mason tallied 147 yards and a score on 28 carries (his most since high school), consistently gouging the Jets right up the gut. ... Mason isn't going to do this every week, of course. And make no mistake, if the Niners are going to get over the hump and avenge last year's Super Bowl loss, the team is going to need McCaffrey out there. But this was a Jets team that some believe is the best in the AFC East—and the Niners handled them with ease. If they can do the same to the Rams in Week 2, San Fran could be firmly in the driver's seat in the NFC West before the end of September." — NFL Staff
Pro Football Talk
Current Ranking: 3
Previous Ranking: 4
"Yes, the 49ers are good enough to not have one of their best players and not miss a beat." — Mike Florio
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 3
Previous Ranking: 6
"Monday night was a thorough beatdown and confidence builder for the 49ers who were playing without Christian McCaffrey and still managed to dismantle a Jets team that scored the first touchdown after an impressive first-quarter drive. Brock Purdy maintained composure and Kyle Shanahan showed that, for at least this moment in time, he still has the most versatile set of killer skill position players in the NFL." — Conor Orr
USA Today
Current Ranking: 3
Previous Ranking: 5
"Lingering contract issues, lingering injuries, lingering pall from their latest Super Bowl setback. No matter the offseason's various dilemmas, plug in RB Jordan Mason and reap the rewards (152 yards from scrimmage and a TD) of a resounding Week 1 victory that portends another deep playoff run." — Nate Davis
The Ringer
Current Ranking: 4
Previous Ranking: 5
"San Francisco's passing game looked off at times on Monday night, and the late news of Christian McCaffrey's calf injury might have shrunk the playbook for Kyle Shanahan, but the 49ers looked pretty good in their 2024 season debut. Backup running back Jordan Mason and the 49ers offensive line shoved the Jets around all night–delivering a vintage Shanahan rushing performance. Star linebacker Fred Warner put on a defensive clinic; it was clear he knew all of the Jets' tendencies and spent most of the night blowing up the Jets' running game. Even if this 49ers team doesn't reach the statistical heights it did last season, it won't need to in order to bully most teams." — Diante Lee