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Week 1 Against the Jets is a Must-Win Game for the 49ers

The 49ers have to start off the 2024 regular season with a win over the Jets in Week 1.

Jose Luis Sanchez III

Aug 18, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) holds onto the ball after taking a snap against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Aug 18, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) holds onto the ball after taking a snap against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images / Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
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The vibes surrounding the San Francisco 49ers have been foggy for the last two months.

Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams were holding out for a new contract, and injuries were compiling at an alarming rate. Nothing seemed to be going right for the 49ers. It was trending to be a poor start for their 2024 season.

However, the new deals for Aiyuk and Williams were finalized. Injuries also decreased significantly headlined with the return of Christian McCaffrey at practice. Suddenly, the 49ers find themselves gaining momentum to begin the regular season.

That is exactly why Week 1 against the New York Jets is a must-win game for the 49ers. All it takes is a win against the Jets at home in prime time to solidify their momentum. It will set the tone for their regular season as it did last year.

The 49ers fired on all cylinders in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023. They dominated the Steelers in every facet. It would catapult the 49ers to start the season with five straight wins. A win against the Jets, especially in dominant fashion, can do the same.

It also, and most importantly, erases all of the negative aura throughout training camp. Just because the injuries slowed down and Williams and Aiyuk returned doesn't erase the awkward vibes of the last two months. It's been only a week of excellent atmosphere with their returns.

This game is their chance to put all of that to rest and prove everything is fine. Winning is a "cure-all" for anything negative that has taken place on a team. And for a team that is trying to avoid a repeat of the 2020 season, they need to be victorious against the Jets.

Every game is always a must-win, but this one carries significant weight. One that can define the first quarter of the season for the 49ers.

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Jose Luis Sanchez III

JOSE LUIS SANCHEZ III

Jose Luis Sanchez III has covered the San Francisco 49ers daily for FanNation since 2019. He started off as the lead publisher for FanNation's All49ers, then switched positions to become the Deputy Editor in 2020. Sanchez writes, edits, and produces videos daily for All49ers. He also co-hosts a show on YouTube with All49ers lead publisher Grant Cohn weekly. Prior to FanNation, Sanchez started his writing career back in 2016 for the school newspaper at Skyline college where he covered all sports team in the Bay Area. Following that from 2017 to 2019, he found a role as a contributor for FanSided's news desk along with their site's Just Blog Baby covering the Las Vegas Raiders and Golden Gate Sports every professional Bay Area sports team. Atop all of that, he was able to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Communication Studies at San Francisco State University in 2020. Sanchez is committed to ensuring he delivers transparent analysis and straightforward opinions that resonates with readers to get them thinking.

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