49ers vs. Jets history: Top 3 plays that left fans in awe

The San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets have squared off a total of 14 times, the relatively low number due to playing in different conferences and on completely opposite coasts.

The 15th time will be a Monday Night Football matchup to close out Week 1 of the 2024 season, and there are so many mini storylines going on with this particular showdown. This is the first time the Niners will face their former defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh, who is now the head coach of the Jets.

It will also be the first time the 49ers face (fairly) new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose number they had in the postseason back when he was a member of the Green Bay Packers.

Though these two teams have only met 14 times total in the regular season (the Niners leading the head-to-head series 11-3), there have been some exciting moments in past games.

Let's take a look at three of the most exciting moments in these matchups.

No. 3: Carlos Rogers' fumble recovery

After starting the 2012 NFL season 2-0, the 49ers lost a poorly played game to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. Therefore, they were out for blood in Week 4 in a road game against the Jets.

On their way to a 34-0 rout of the Jets, the Niners had an exciting defensive touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game.

Cornerback Carlos Rogers would recover a fumble committed by Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes and take it to the house for a 51-yard return touchdown.

Although it wasn't a game-changing score, it was a stamp on an all-around dominant game for San Francisco.

No. 2: Raheem Mostert runs wild

The 2020 season was quite an oddity. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most stadiums in the league were not allowed to have fans attend games. That didn't stop the 49ers from putting on a show against the Jets at MetLife Stadium, however.

After a Week 1 loss to the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers came out swinging in Week 2 against Gang Green.

The first score of the game came on a dazzling run by running back Raheem Mostert. He took a toss to the right side of the field and hugged the right sideline all the way to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown.

It was not only the first score of the game, but it came on the first play from scrimmage. It would set the tone for a dominant 31-13 Niners victory.

No. 1: Garrison Hearst in OT

The No. 1 play on this list comes from back in the 1998 season. The 49ers hosted the Jets to open the year.

It was a back-and-forth battle that would give the fans everything they could've asked for. Regulation ended with both teams deadlocked at 30-30.

After the first three drives of overtime ended with punts, the Niners began the fourth drive on their own 4-yard line.

That would not be a problem for San Francisco, though.

Running back Garrison Hearst bounced around and broke free for a 96-yard touchdown run. The run would not only seal the game that day for the 49ers, but it is still the longest run from scrimmage in the franchise's history.