SF 49ers: Finally, the start of the 2024/25 season is here! After all the off-season drama, the dust has settled, and we get to see some 49er football as the 49ers take on the New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers at home in Levi Stadium! And an hour before kickoff, we get our first surprise: 49ers announced that CMC/Christian McCaffrey will NOT play tonight due to lingering issues with his calf/achilles; Jordan Mason will be RB1 (the main running back) for this game!
Kickoff time! In the first quarter, Niners linebacker superstar Fred Warner forces a fumble on the Jets 30 yard line, but the 49ers had to settle for a field goal by kicker Jake Moody, as Deebo Samuel and Brock Purdy were showing the rust as two passes went errant. Jets get the ball back, and march down 75 yards in over seven minutes to score a touchdown. Niners get the ball back, and with some nice runs by Mason and WR Brandon Aiyuk's first catch of this season are in Jets territory as the first quarter ends.
Elite linebacker Fred Warner! Photo Credit: Kym Fortino/49ers.
As the second quarter starts, on a botched trick play that had Deebo running for his life in the wrong direction, the Niners settled for a 51 yard field goal from Moody to make it 7-6, Jets. Jets get the ball back, but on 3rd and four, Nick Bosa gets his first sack of the season, as he and new addition Leonard Floyd take down Rogers! Niners get the ball back, and Mason establishes himself as a power runner on this drive, with four runs that get the Niners into the red zone, Mason then gets a great block from OL Dominick Puni and runs into the end zone, but much to the chagrin of the 49er fans at Levi's and television viewers like myself, the touchdown is erased on a questionable holding penalty on Deebo! No problem, as Mason has another power run to take the ball to the two yard line, and then Purdy hands off to Deebo who runs it in on a sweep play for the touchdown. 12 plays, 67 yards, in 5:49 of clock- now that's 49er football (i'm still throwing steaming at that penalty!), Niners 13 Jets 7 with almost seven minutes to go in the 2nd quarter.
Jets go three and out on their possession, and Niners start theirs with a 15 yard pass to Kittle, then Mason eats up yardage on the ground, Mason then gets into the catching game, as Purdy tosses one to him on a third down play! Next two plays have Purdy throwing two nice passes to Deebo and WR Jauan Jennings for 15 yard gains that have the Niners on the 1 yard line with 24 seconds to go. The rust is showing for Aiyuk as he drops a perfectly thrown pass in the end zone, and the Niners settle for a Moody field goal to make the score 16-7 Niners at halftime.
Juice! Photo Credit: Terrill Lloyd/49ers
San Francisco gets the ball to start the third quarter, and Purdy navigates the Niners down the field with a mix of passes and runs, with fullback Kyle Juszczyk ( a spelling nightmare!) snagging the longest play of the game so far with a 34 yard reception- Juice flexes! Justice for Jordan, as he scrambles into the end zone for the touchdown (to make up for the one that was nullified on that holding call earlier in the game!), finishing a drive that was 11 plays, 70 yards and over seven minutes! 49ers now lead 23-7. Jets get the ball back, and after a couple of plays, throws a pass that was tipped and intercepted by Flannigan-Fowles!
Purdy and the Niners take over on their own 35 yard line. Purdy now showing some rustiness with two errant throws, so the Niners settle for a Jake Moody 53 yard field goal, which hits the goal post and banks left off the goal post and in, hockey-style! Score is now Niners 26 Jets 7.
Love this art photo of Mason's touchdown!
Jets take over and Rodgers in three plays, throws a 36 yard TD pass to Allen Lazard; Jets decide to go for the 2-point conversion, but come up short. Niners lead, 26-13, late 3rd quarter. Niners have the ball to end the 3rd quarter.
To start the fourth quarter, a Jets defensive penalty gives the Niners a first down at mid-field, then Purdy lasers a pass to Deebo, who twirls off a tackle for a 26 yard gain! Purdy then throws a pass while under pressure, which Aiyuk catches for another 15 yard gain! Niners get down to the 5-yard line, but have to settle for a Jake Moody field goal, his 5th of the night. Niners lead 29-13.
Jets get the ball, and at mid-field, go for the 4th down and the Niners defense foils them, Niners ball at mid-field. First play sees Mason breaks out for a 25 yard run to put Niners at 25 yard line. Niners end up having Jake Moody kick his SIXTH field goal of the night, Niners up 32-13! Rodgers might is done, as Jets bring in their back up QB to finish the last 4:20 of the game. Jets score a TD, but that's all, folks, as the Niners defeat the Jets 32-19.
I love, love, love this pic!
Notes: Niners DOMINATED the time of possession: Almost 39 minutes to the Jets 20 minutes!
Niners at one point scored on eight consecutive drives! Jordan Mason: 147 yards rushing on 28 carries- the most in his WHOLE career!
Purdy: 19/29 for 231 yards passing! He definitely had the managerial touch!
Moody: Had a team tying record of six field goals, which outscored the Jets, 20-19!
Off to Minnesota to face the Vikings next Sunday.
In other NFL news: Dak Prescott got PAID. Dallas and their star Quarterback Dak Prescott finally came to an agreement on a new contract. One that will pay Prescott 240 million over four years, with 231 million of that guaranteed, the highest ever for an NFL player. Now we have an idea of the bank Brock Purdy will be looking for after the end of this season.
Thanks a lot, Cleveland Browns, for effing just about everyone's betting cards by losing to a New England team with a new coach and new quarterback in the NFL upset of the week.
Green Bay Packer fans had salt rubbed into their wounds after losing to the Philly Eagles in Sao Paulo, Brazil (the NFL's first game in the Southern hemisphere!). On the last play of the game, Packers QB Jordan Love injured his knee and will now miss several games this season! Ouch!
A rather ugly incident occurred before the Miami Dolphins/ Jacksonville Jaguars as star wide receiver Tyreek Hill was pulled over by Miami-Dade police, removed from his car, and then put to the ground and handcuffed for a "traffic infraction". After a few minutes, Hill was let go, suited up, and had one of the best games of his career! I'm posting a link of Tyreek's post-game interview about the incident, which the next day, the Miami-Dade police union claims they Hill was "not being cooperative" with the officers on the scene! I expect more to come from this story, but will add the owner of the Miami Dolphins is a major Trump supporter. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41183143/tyreek-hill-trying-process-pregame-detainment-police
UPDATE: the police body-cam was released, and it looks as bad as we heard. Dolphins released a statement basically condemning the actions the MDPD put Tyreek through. I expect more to come from this story.
College Football: The California Golden Bears travelled cross-country to play the Auburn Tigers, who barely beat Cal last season in Berkeley, and with a steady offense, and a monster defensive game, upset the favored Tigers, 21-14. The defense forced six turnovers, five of them being interceptions to pull off the upset, and with a 2-0 record, are hanging with the big boys in their new ACC Conference. The Stanford Cards played Cal-Poly, a creampuff team not known for their football, and rolled to a Cards 41-7 victory.
The biggest and most shocking upset came from the Northern Illinois and fifth-ranked Notre Dame game; where the Fighting Irish were 28.5 favorites. Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame, 16-14! The shocking defeat dropped Notre Dame from fifth to 17th in the AP poll.
In the Iowa-Iowa State game, Brock Purdy won his bet against George Kittle, as Iowa State came from behind and squeaked out a 21-20 victory! And here is a screenshot of the reaction of both players- hysterical! You can guess which player played for which team! :)
Non Sportsball stuff!
Star Trek Day was this past Sunday, and Paramount released the first 2 minutes of the final season opener....enjoy trekkies (David!)!
So many tributes, stories, photos spilled out over the announcement of actor James Earl Jones passing at the age of 93. So many great roles including a baseball film, Field of Dreams, that even non sportsball fans appreciate, as well as his voice role in The Lion King. Most of us though will remember Mr. Jones voice for the legendary villain, Darth Vader. Becuase of that, I landed on choosing this photo and the very cool thing the Empire State Building did to pay homage to such a gifted actor and his iconic voice role.
Until next week, May the Force be with you!
Comments