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Aaron Rodgers’ Comeback Season Set for Prime Time
The New York Jets will kick off their season in prime time as they travel to face the San Francisco 49ers, the defending NFC champions, on September 9th on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.” This marks Aaron Rodgers’ second straight season playing a prime-time game in Week 1. Last year, his Jets debut turned into a season-altering disaster when he tore his left Achilles on the fourth snap and missed the rest of the season.
In another prime-time matchup, the Buffalo Bills will take on the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night, September 12th, to open Week 2. The game will be aired on Amazon Prime.
Key Matchup: Rodgers vs. Purdy
The game between the Jets and 49ers will feature a compelling quarterback matchup, with Rodgers facing Brock Purdy. Purdy, the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant, has emerged as one of the NFL’s success stories. The 49ers, still reeling from their Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, will be looking for redemption.
In an intriguing twist, the 49ers signed defensive end Leonard Floyd in the offseason. Floyd, who was playing for the Bills at the time, was the one who sacked Rodgers, causing the injury that ended his previous season.
The Jets, who struggled with quarterback instability last season, are hoping to turn things around. Rodgers holds a 6-3 career record against the 49ers, making this matchup a significant one for the veteran quarterback.
Homecoming for Rodgers
This game is a special one for Rodgers, as he returns to his home state of California. The quarterback, who grew up in Chico and attended UC Berkeley, had once hoped to be drafted first overall by the 49ers. However, they ultimately chose Alex Smith instead.
Both coaching staffs have strong connections. Jets head coach Robert Saleh previously served as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator under Kyle Shanahan before joining the Jets. Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, a former 49ers linebacker, was considered for the 49ers’ defensive coordinator position after last season.
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