Jets Defense a Total No Show vs. 49ers

 Well at least Aaron Rodgers completed an entire game this time. 

While all eyes were on the health and play of Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers going into their Week 1 match-up with the San Francisco 49ers, the facts are this New York's defense never came to play in a humbling 32-19 loss on Monday Night Football. 

Aaron Rodgers against San Francisco. Getty Images

Rodgers acquitted himself well on Monday. While he looked a little rusty and stiff in the pocket, when he needed to make plays he did. He showed that familiar zip with the football, completed passes in tight windows, and fooled San Fran on a beautiful fade down the field to his fellow former Packers teammate Allen Lazard for six points. 

The key here of course is: "when the Jets had the ball;" which wasn't often. The Jets held possession for only 21 minutes and 25 seconds; the lowest amount of T.O.P. in Rodgers' entire career. 

That is mainly due to the fact that the Jets defense was putrid on Monday. Gang Green was out-schemed, out-coached, and out-smarted all night. 

The Niners were without their stud running back Christian McCaffery and it didn't matter. Filling in was little know veteran Jordan Mason, who looked more like Marshawn Lynch in his prime the way he blasted through Jets defenders. Mason ran for 147 yards and a score. He would have had two touchdowns were one of them not called back for holding. 

Tip your cap to the 49ers offensive line which was spectacular against the Jets defense. They bullied the Jets all night, and New York had no answer. 

The result was 401 yards of offense on 70 plays for San Francisco. 

Even quarterback Brock Purdy was able to sit back and throw the ball all over the ballpark. 

Think the Jets miss not having John Franklin Myers (traded to Denver) or Bryce Huff (Free agency to Philly) around? How about Haason Reddick who remains a holdout? 

Maybe, just maybe General Manager Joe Douglas needs to hop on that phone and put an end to this ridiculous hold out before it is too late. The Jets need help defensively. 

Robert Saleh promised a better effort from the D moving forward. That must happen. Monday Night's result wasn't a season ender, but it certainly was a wake-up call to a team that believes it can compete with the big dogs come December and January. 

They have the quarterback to get them there, but he needs a little help too.