Peyton Manning didn't allow a pass dropped by Brandon Aiyuk in the end zone that would have added to the 13-7 lead the 49ers had over the Jets on “Monday Night Football.”
Brock Purdy made a good pass to Aiyuk, but the ball hit the receiver's hand and fell to the ground, making the pass incomplete.
In the end, the missed touchdown opportunity didn't mean much in San Francisco's 32-19 victory.
Still, Manning was not pleased with the play and appeared on ESPN's alternative broadcast, “The Manningcast,” to express his anger.
Aiyuk and the 49ers agreed to a four-year, $120 million contract just before the start of the season, ending a long-running feud that had dominated the offseason storyline.
“Let's get the deal done and get into training camp. Training camp is there for a reason. We need training camp. We need practice,” Manning said. “Let's get the deal done early so we can get into training camp. [so] I won't make any mistakes in the opening game.”
Payton's brother, Eli Manning, seemed to play it off, calling Aiyuk “just a little rusty,” but Payton wasn't buying it.
When Eli finished, he quickly went back to his own opinion.
“You're catching the ball from a quarterback who's 45 years old on a high school field, but you're not catching the ball from your quarterback,” he said. “You sign, you show up to camp, and you don't drop the ball.”
San Francisco settled for a field goal and ended the first half with a 16-7 lead.
The Niners swept the Jets in their season opener and it was never a close game until the end.
Aiyuk ended up catching two passes for 28 yards.
Jauan Jennings led the 49ers with 64 yards receiving, and both of the team's touchdowns came on the ground.
