Peyton Manning didn’t let Brandon Aiyuk off the hook for a dropped pass in the end zone that would have extended the 13-7 lead the 49ers had over the Jets on “Monday Night Football.”
Brock Purdy gave Aiyuk a good pass, but the ball hit the receiver right in the hands and fell to the ground for an incompletion.
In the end, the missed touchdown chance didn’t mean all that much in what became a 32-19 win for San Francisco.
Still, Manning wasn’t happy about the play in the moment and went off on ESPN’s “ManningCast” alternative broadcast.
Aiyuk and the 49ers agreed to a four-year, $120 million contract just before the start of the season, ending a long-running standoff that made up most of the offseason storyline.
“Get signed. Get in training camp. There’s a reason for training camp. You need it. We need the reps,” Manning said. “Get those contracts done earlier so he can get in training camp [so] we don’t drop balls on opening night.”
While brother Eli Manning took a little less fired-up approach while calling Aiyuk “just a little rusty,” Peyton wasn’t having it.
He went right back into his point after Eli finished up.
“You’re still catching balls at a high school field from some quarterback that’s 45 years old, my age. You’re not catching balls from your quarterback,” he said. “Get signed, get in camp, and we don’t drop the ball.”
San Francisco settled for a field goal to take a 16-7 lead into the half.
The Niners outplayed the Jets in the opening game of their season with the action never getting too close in the end.
Aiyuk had two receptions for 28 yards when all was said and done.
Jauan Jennings led the 49ers in receiving yards with 64, and both of the team’s touchdowns came on the ground.