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The first Monday Night Football game of the NFL season is here! After months of waiting, NFL fans will be treated to a battle between the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets. The 49ers are hoping to finally get over the hump and win the Super Bowl. The Jets are banking on Aaron Rodgers returning from a torn Achilles and playing at an elite level. There are dozens of intriguing storylines entering this game, and we put together five bold predictions for the first MNF showdown of the season.
Aaron Rodgers Throws an Interception Early
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On September 11, 2023, Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles on Monday Night Football on the fourth play of the game. Nearly one year later, Rodgers is set to return to the field and hopes to remind the league why he is a four-time MVP. The future Hall of Famer is known for taking care of the ball — he has a mere 105 INTs throughout his career — but Rodgers will take an early chance against the Niners that will backfire. Looking to prove he still has what it takes, Rodgers will take a deep shot to Garrett Wilson on New York’s second drive of the game. Unfortunately, the pass will land in the hands of a San Francisco defender.
San Francisco Will Not Score In The 1st Quarter
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San Francisco fielded one of the league’s best offenses in 2023 and will once again be an elite unit this season. With that being said, it is going to take a bit of time for the group to hit its stride. Star running back Christian McCaffrey was limited throughout the preseason with a sore calf/Achilles. Wideout Brandon Aiyuk didn’t participate in training camp as he awaited a new deal. Those factors coupled with New York featuring one of the best defenses in the league will result in a scoreless opening quarter for the Niners. Additionally, Jets coach Robert Saleh — formerly San Francisco’s DC — will have his defense fired up for this matchup.
Brock Purdy Enters Halftime With 0 TDs and 2 INTs
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Brock Purdy has gone from Mr. Irrelevant to an MVP candidate in a short time. The former Iowa State passer is 17-4 as San Francisco’s starting quarterback and had the team within minutes of winning the Super Bowl in his first year as QB1. Purdy threw just 11 interceptions in 2023, but he is going to get off to a slow start tonight. Flustered by New York’s pass rush, Purdy is going to force the issue and throw two poor interceptions before halftime. As Kyle Shanahan turns to McCaffrey to stabilize the offense, Purdy will enter the break with a miserable stat line.
Breece Hall Finishes With 110+ Yards
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In his return from a torn ACL, Breece Hall accounted for over 1,500 yards in 2023 while playing within a horrid offense. With Rodgers now back under center, Hall is primed for an even better season. Assuming Rodgers can stay upright, Hall should benefit from having a Hall of Fame QB operating the offense. Hall averaged 4.5 YPC last season and caught 76 passes. The Niners will surely focus on slowing him down, but Hall will still have a big game. Spurred on by an early 40-yard run, Hall will finish with 96 rushing yards and 38 receiving yards.
Late Game Heroics From Brandon Aiyuk
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The Niners nearly traded their top wideout to the Pittsburgh Steelers a few weeks before their first game. Instead, Aiyuk and the team agreed on a new deal that will keep the star in San Francisco for a few more seasons. Despite missing a majority of the offseason, Aiyuk will come through in the clutch for his team tonight. Trailing by six points with under four minutes to play, the Niners will mount a game-winning drive with Aiyuk leading the way. Purdy will find Aiyuk in the back of the endzone with 1:27 on the clock handing the Niners a thrilling Week 1 victory.
