SF 49ers vs. NY Jets: Week 2 behind enemy lines chat with Jet Press

With the SF 49ers visiting the NY Jets in Week 2, Niner Noise joined with FanSided’s sister site, The Jet Press, to preview the bout.

The last time the SF 49ers faced off against the New York Jets was back during that forgettable 2016 campaign under one-and-done head coach Chip Kelly.

New York squashed the Niners in that contest 23-17, one of the 14 losses Kelly suffered that season and a prime pathway to the franchise luring in current head coach Kyle Shanahan. Across the way, Jets head coach Adam Gase seems to be facing the same kind of scrutiny both Kelly and his predecessor, Jim Tomsula, faced back when they were trying to fix things in San Francisco.

Except for Gase’s case, he’s at least had an extra year to solve things.

Both the SF 49ers and Jets enter this contest with a 0-1 record, the Niners having fallen at home to the Arizona Cardinals while New York lost on the road to the Buffalo Bills. Yet San Francisco is expected to be a playoff contender.

Gase and his Jets, meanwhile, are still on the rebuild but could be a potential upset candidate for Shanahan and Co., particularly when considering the East Coast road game for the red and gold.

To get an idea of what’s going on with these two teams and what’s on the line for each in Week 2, Niner Noise joined forces with our FanSided sister site covering all things Jets, The Jet Press, and site expert Justin Fried for a little Q&A session.

If you’d like to see Niner Noise’s answers to The Jet Press’ questions, click here.

NN: Jets head coach Adam Gase was a contender for the SF 49ers’ head coaching vacancy back in 2015, yet that ultimately never panned out. Now with the Jets, do you think Gase winds up being the first coach fired this season, or is he going to be allowed to finish the year at least?

"TJP: Ideally, Adam Gase would have been kicked to the curb following last season’s brutal 1-7 start or after his offense finished 32nd in the NFL. But determined to prove himself right and give Gase another chance, owner Christopher Johnson opted to allow his coach to return in 2020. But if the Jets finish 5-11 or worse, a very likely possibility, it’s hard to see Gase returning without substantial improvement from the offense. It would take a complete dumpster fire to have him removed mid-season which certainly isn’t out of the question.But in all likelihood, Gase and the Jets limp their way to something along the lines of a 4-12 record and the organization goes in a different direction after the season is over."

NN: What is the expectation level for quarterback Sam Darnold in 2020. It’s year three for him, and the thinking is often a quarterback has to show he’s either worthy of being the franchise’s signal-caller or a team will consider moving on. How close do you think Darnold is to being replaced?

"TJP: It’s taken three years, but the Jets may have finally broken Sam Darnold. They took a fantastic quarterback prospect and put him in a situation where he had a bottom-two receiving corps, a bottom-two offensive line, a league-worst running game, and the worst offensive coaching staff in the NFL. Its no surprise that he’s regressed since Gase took over last season and, in all honesty, it’s amazing he’s lasted this long given his situation. But the fact of the matter is that excuses can only take you so far in the NFL. The Jets need to make a decision on Darnold’s fifth-year option in the offseason and his play hasn’t justified picking it up right now.Again, that’s hardly all his fault. But it doesn’t matter whose fault it is — it’s just reality."

NN: SF 49ers fans love themselves some Frank Gore, and he’s one of the most beloved players in franchise history. With the Jets’ No. 1 running back, Le’Veon Bell, out on short-term injured reserve, what are you expecting out of Gore in this contest, and how excited are you to see him match up against his former squad?

"TJP: It’s hard to expect Frank Gore producing any more than Le’Veon Bell has. Against a stout 49ers front-seven, the Jets’ offensive line will have their work cut out for them. They looked improved in Week 1, but I can’t imagine them having much success against the likes of Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, and Dee Ford. While the revenge game narrative for Gore is fun and I’m sure he’ll enjoy facing his old team, I don’t expect him to be much of a factor in Week 2."

NN: With wide receiver Jamison Crowder out for Sunday’s contest, who do you think are the key weapons New York features in its offense to try attacking San Francisco’s defense?

"TJP: Jamison Crowder was the lone bright spot for an otherwise abysmal offensive performance in Week 1. But in typical Jets fashion, he’s now been sidelined with a knee injury. The unheralded Braxton Berrios will step into a starting role, but with only six career catches to his name, expectations should certainly be curbed.I’d like to see the Jets get Chris Herndon and Ryan Griffin more involved on offense this week. Herndon was underwhelming in Week 1 and Griffin was hardly used. The SF 49ers have plenty of talent to cover tight ends, but the Jets don’t have many choices here."

NN: What are some key X-factors for the Jets on Sunday? And if New York pulls off the upset, what are some key reasons why?

"TJP: The only way the Jets have any chance of even looking competitive this Sunday is if the offensive line exceeds expectations and mitigates a dominant 49ers’ pass-rush. First-round pick Mekhi Becton looked great in Week 1, but he’ll have his hands full as he’ll be matched up with one of the best edge rushers in the NFL in Nick Bosa. Arik Armstead could wreak havoc on the Jets’ interior defensive line while Dee Ford, if he plays, could spell trouble for George Fant at right tackle. If somehow, someway the Jets are able to limit the 49ers pass-rush, they’ll have a shot of staying competitive. A win seems far-fetched, but after last week, we’ll take what we can get."

Currently, according to The Action Network, the Niners are sitting at seven-point favorites for this bout. And while San Francisco is awfully banged up with injuries, notably being absent tight end George Kittle and cornerback Richard Sherman, it seems the Jets’ multitude of serious injuries offsets any major concern Shanahan should have about being shorthanded.

Still, the expectation for the SF 49ers will be to bounce back from those issues seen on the field versus the Cardinals in Week 1.

Regardless, Niner Noise would like to extend our gratitude to Justin Fried and the entire staff over at The Jet Press. Be sure to give them a follow, @TheJetPress, on Twitter. And you can follow Fried on Twitter, too, @JustinTFried.

The SF 49ers and NY Jets kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 20 from MetLife Stadium.