It’s Week 1, but the 49ers picked up right where they left off in last season’s Super Bowl appearance after Monday night’s convincing 32-19 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets at Levi’s Stadium.
And the statistics support this assumption. Eight statistics, to be exact.
After their first possession of the game, the 49ers scored a touchdown or field goal on eight consecutive possessions, setting the longest scoring streak for San Francisco since at least 1978, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Despite a dramatic offseason with two offensive stars missing, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and San Francisco’s star-studded offense missed no punches to get things rolling in the season opener.
Without Christian McCaffrey, who was taken out of the game 90 minutes before kickoff with calf and Achilles problems, it was third-year running back Jordan Mason who shined in his first career start. Mason finished the win with a career-high 147 rushing yards on 28 carries, making him the third-most rushing yards by a 49ers player in his first career start – behind only former 49ers backs Carlos Hyde and Kevan Barlow.
Here’s a breakdown of the 49ers players with the most rushing yards in their first career start:
| Rank | Player | Rush Yds. | Date & Opponent
| 1. | RB Carlos Hyde | 168 | 09/14/15 vs. Min.
| 2. | RB Kevan Barlow | 154 | 07.12.03 against Arz.
| 3. | RB Jordan Mason | 147 | 9/8/24 vs NYJ
| 4. | RB Maurice Hicks | 139 | 12.12.04 at Arz.
| 5. | RB Matt Breida | 138 | 09/16/18 vs. Det.
And of course, the 49ers’ offensive dominance didn’t end there. It never does.
Do-it-all wide receiver Deebo Samuel scored the first touchdown of the 2024 NFL season for the 49ers with a 2-yard run into the end zone. The rushing touchdown was the first of the season and the 20th of Samuel’s career, which is the highest score by a player whose primary position is wide receiver since at least 1960.
| MOST RUSHING TDs BY A WR SINCE 1960
| Rank | Player | Rush TDs
| 1. | WR Deebo Samuel, SF | 20
| 2. | WR Bobby Mitchell, Cle./Was. | 18
| 3. | WR Eric Metcalf, Cle./Attl. | 12
Welcome back, Wideback.
We can’t talk about the crime without showing some sympathy to Jake Moody.
The second-year kicker was responsible for more than half of San Francisco’s 32 points on Monday, converting all six of his field goal attempts (46, 51, 31, 53, 23 and 42) as well as both of his PATs.
Moody made a career-high six field goals, tying the franchise record for most field goals in a single game, tied with Robbie Gould, Jeff Wilkins and Ray Wersching.
It also set the record for most field goals made by a 49ers player in Week 1 in franchise history, alongside Jeff Chandler and David Aker.
With his six field goals, Moody became the fourth kicker in league history to make six field goals in Week 1, joining former kicker John Carney (1993), Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (2024) and former kicker Jeff Wilkins (2006).
To summarize the impressive stats on the offensive side of the ball, the 49ers offense showed movement on 90 percent (62 of 69) of plays against the Jets. According to Next Gen Stats, that’s the second-highest movement rate of any offense in Week 1, behind only the Miami Dolphins (91 percent).
Three different San Francisco players moved at least 15 times against New York – Samuel (23), Kyle Juszczyk (19) and George Kittle (15). Samuel’s eight runs for 23 rushing yards on moving plays are the second-most moving runs since at least 2018, according to Next Gen Stats.
Three different 49ers offensive players were in action at least 15 times in Week 1 – Deebo Samuel (23), Kyle Juszczyk (19) and George Kittle (15).
Samuel finished the game with 8 rushing yards for 23 rushing yards, ranking second for most rushing yards since at least 2018. pic.twitter.com/A28fBabvhb
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) 10 September 2024
Meanwhile, new 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd fit perfectly into San Francisco’s dominant D-line.
The ninth-year pro recorded two tackles and a sack against Rodgers, which was his first sack with the 49ers and the 59th of his career. His sack against Rodgers was his 11th against the future Hall of Fame quarterback, and his 11 sacks against Rodgers are the most by any active player against an active quarterback in the NFL, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
| ACTIVE PLAYERS WITH THE MOST SACKS AGAINST AN ACTIVE QUARTERBACK
| Rank | player | Bags
| 1. | DL Leonard Floyd vs. QB Aaron Rodgers | 11.0
| 2. | DL Cameron Jordan vs. QB Jameis Winston | 9.5
| 3. | DL Joey Bosa vs. QB Derek Carr | 8.5
| 4. | LB TJ Watt versus QB Baker Mayfield | 8.5
Phew, that was a lot.
But if the numbers confirm the mood that the red and gold team is exuding at the start of the new 2024 season, then the 49ers’ loyal supporters should feel good about the franchise’s “Quest for Six”.
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