The first week of action in the NFL will be completed with the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets. The quarterback Aaron Rodgers is back for the Jets after missing out on the whole past season. The 49ers lost the Super Bowl to Kansas in February and could still have a hangover from that loss. We hit our NFL prediction yesterday when the Broncos scored over 17.5 points.
The 49ers are the defending NFC champions. According to NFL tradition or history, it is very hard to win the first game of the new season just after losing the Super Bowl. The 49ers have a challenge in front of them for sure, not just with their opponent but with history as well. In Las Vegas, the 49ers are favorites to win the game with 4.5 points. Since 2000, the teams that lost the previous Super Bowl are 10–14 in week one. Under the reigns of coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers are 2-5 in week one. Not a flattering stat.
If we keep looking at tradition and history, the 49ers have gone under the total in nine out of the last ten seasons. That could be something worth remembering when you place your bet for the match. The 49ers' offensive line has not been impressive during the preseason, and they have had four different defensive coordinators in the last five seasons. That is far from ideal in the NFL. This season, Nick Sorensen is the new defensive coordinator.
Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in the first game of last season, so he missed out on the entire season. The Jets were a disaster, and they must do better this season. The Jets finished 7-10 last season and are expected to improve with a healthy Rodgers. Right now, the Jets are expected to win the AFC East. They have a great defense, an upgraded offensive line, and a healthy Aaron Rodgers can make a huge and significant difference. One major question is what kind of shape Rodgers is in and if he still has a feel for the rhythm of the game. It wouldn’t be surprising if he has to deal with some rust at the start of the season. The match will be played in Santa Clara, California, near where Rodgers attended college. The Jets could make a true statement if they win this match, especially if the 49ers are still hungover from their Super Bowl loss in February. The Jets have statistics on their side.
