BOWL TITLE BACK TO THE BAY AREA. >> GOOD EVENING TO YOU. I'M ELIZABETH COOK. >>> FANS ARE POURING INTO LEVI'S STADIUM NOW. WITHIN THE LAST HOUR AND A HALF WE'VE LEARNED THE 9ers WILL BE MISSING A KEY PLAYER. VERN GLENN IS IN SANTA CLARA WITH TONIGHT'S BIG MATCH-UP. >> Reporter: WELCOME TO LEVI'S STADIUM WITH THE JETS AND 49ers ABOUT TO TEE OFF THE SEASON, A SHOCKER FROM THE FIELD. 49er ALL-PRO RUNNING BACK CHRISTIAN McCAFFERY IS OUT FOR TONIGHT'S GAME BECAUSE OF CALF AND ACHILLE'S ISSUES. IT'S BEEN A SHORT OFFSEASON FOR THE 49ers BECAUSE THEY MADE THE SUPER BOWL, BUT IT HASN'T FELT THAT WAY. SAN FRANCISCO HAS WAITED SEVEN MONTHS TO GET BACK ON THE FIELD. THE Is ARE DOTTED AND THE Ts ARE CROSSED ON NEW CONTRACTS. SO NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT CHASING THAT ELUSIVE LOMBARDI TROPHY. >> THAT WINDOW FOR WINNING SUPER BOWLS, IT'S NOT ALWAYS OPEN, BUT AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, IT'S BEEN OPEN. SO WE GOT TO MAKE IT OPEN. >> Reporter: ALL OF THIS, THE PAGEANTRY AND DRAMA AND IT ALL HAPPENS WOULDN'T YOU KNOW ON RICKY PEARSALL'S 24th BIRTHDAY TONIGHT. >>> THE PARKING LOTS AT LEVI'S STADIUM HAVE BEEN OPEN ABOUT THREE HOURS NOW AND THE PARTY HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THEN. KARA ST. CYR IS LIVE FOR US AMID ALL THE EXCITEMENT. WHAT'S THE MOOD LIKE OUT THERE? >> Reporter: IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR FOOTBALL. THE CROWDS ARE STARTING TO WALK IN. THE ENERGY OUTSIDE IS REALLY JUST ELECTRIC, BUT FANS REALLY HAVE TWO THINGS ON THEIR MINDS RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS REDEMPTION AND THEY WANT TO BEAT AARON RODGERS. THE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE OF LEVI'S STADIUM WAS FILLED TO THE BRIM, TAILGATERS BLASTING MUSIC, TALKING SMACK ABOUT AARON RODGERS. AT ONE POINT 49ers FANS HOPE RODGERS WOULD WEAR THAT SIGNATURE RED AND GOLD, BUT HE WENT TO THE JETS. MANY ARE USING THAT FRUSTRATION TO FUEL THE HYPE FOR TODAY'S GAME. THIS SEASON OPENER IS ALSO ABOUT THAT ROAD TO REDEMPTION. FANS TELL ME THEY MOVED ON FROM LAST SEASON'S HEARTBREAKING LOSS TO THE CHIEFS AND SEE THIS YEAR AS A CLEAN SLATE. >> I WENT THROUGH IT ONCE. I WENT THROUGH IT AGAIN TO THE CHIEFS. YOU GOT TO LET IT GO. YOU GOT TO KNOW THE MISTAKES YOU MADE COME BACK, TAKE OVER AND LET THEM KNOW WE GOT TO GET BACK IN THIS THING AND DO WHAT WE GOT TO DO AND THAT'S BANG BANG. >> WE'LL GET OVER THE HUMP THIS YEAR. >> WE'RE DUE. WE HAVE TO BE DUE. >> WE GOT ALL THE PLAYERS, ALL RIGHT? AARON RODGERS, ONE PERSON. I CAN NAME OFF A WHOLE -- THAT'S ONE OF THEM. DEEBO SAMUEL. WE GOT THEM ALL. >> Reporter: SO THERE YOU HAVE IT, LOT OF BANG BANGS, LOTS OF EXCITEMENT. KICKOFF IS AT 5:15. WE WILL SEE