Aaron Rodgers returned to his former neighborhood on Sunday.
After the Jets launched him in March, Rodgers received his revenge on the Jets.
Rodgers accomplished 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns within the Steelers’ (1-0) 34-32 win towards the Jets (0-1) at MetLife Stadium.
“Exciting game, but I’m not into moral victories,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn mentioned after the sport. “This was a recreation, man, it was backwards and forwards, lots of combating.
“I assumed offensively rather a lot, lots of good issues offensively that we are able to construct on. The one factor to me that needed to flip this recreation is we are able to’t have turnovers, we are able to’t do it. We have now to be a extra disciplined crew.
“There were some penalties that happened in that game that were some true discipline issues, and again, that is something that will be addressed. Because you will not be on the field with this team if you are going to cause us to lose games. We will get that addressed.”
Each Rodgers and Justin Fields have been excellent of their debuts. Rodgers accomplished 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns. Fields accomplished 16-of-22 passes for 218 yards with three whole touchdowns.
It was the primary season opener in NFL historical past between beginning quarterbacks who swapped groups throughout the offseason. Sunday additionally marked Glenn’s first recreation as Jets coach.
Two of Rodgers’ touchdowns got here in a span of fifty seconds. Chris Boswell’s late-game heroics have been the distinction after he transformed a go-ahead 60-yard discipline aim with 1:03 remaining, which gave the Steelers the two-point victory.
“How you respond oftentimes defines you,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin mentioned. “I can’t say enough about Bos. Our kicker is a serial killer. He can’t wait to deliver.”
Rodgers was 6-12 because the Jets’ beginning quarterback, which can largely be remembered for his Achilles tear throughout his debut with the crew in 2023. He returned the next 12 months, however the Jets completed with a disappointing 5-12 document, which noticed each coach Robert Saleh and common supervisor Joe Douglas fired.
All through the week main as much as the sport, Rodgers downplayed the importance of the matchup towards his former crew. A lot of his former Jets teammates and even Glenn himself didn’t have a lot to say about Rodgers.
Identical with Fields after spending all of final season with the Steelers, after the Bears traded him following three seasons in Chicago. After the Jets launched Rodgers, they signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million assured.
“I think the most frustrating part is the loss,” Fields mentioned. “However inside a recreation, all of the lead modifications, I’m type of anticipating them to attain. Whether or not they rating or not, I’m able to go. That’s the mindset that I had just about all recreation.
“It’s football at the end of the day. You are going to take punches, you are going to punch, that’s just how this game is, especially when two good teams go at it. So you can’t let any of that phase you. You have to keep going out there and driving the ball down the field.”
In 26 of the earlier 29 seasons, at the very least one crew that has completed in final place has certified for the postseason. Glenn hopes the Jets would be the twenty seventh in 30 seasons.
In the course of the offseason, Glenn needed to instill a tradition change of old-school toughness within the Jets. That features being a run-heavy offense revolving round Fields’ capacity to scramble outdoors the pocket.
That was on show early on Sunday when the Jets registered 106 yards on the bottom within the first half. Fields was additionally equally spectacular by the air after finishing 9-of-11 passes for 134 yards and a landing within the first half-hour. The crew completed the sport with 182 yards on 39 carries.
Sunday marked the primary time since 2016 that the Jets scored on their first 4 possessions. As well as, the Jets didn’t punt your entire first half for the primary time since 1991.
To start the fourth quarter, the Steelers minimize their deficit to 2 factors after Rodgers threw his third landing move of the day to Jaylen Warren, which made the rating 26-24.
On the next kickoff, catastrophe struck for the Jets when Xavier Gipson fumbled the ball on the 20-yard line after Kenneth Gainwell compelled the ball unfastened and Skowronek recovered it. Two performs later, Rodgers’ 18-yard move to Calvin Austin III gave the Steelers a 31-26 lead early within the fourth quarter.
“That particular play, that probably would be the worst time to fumble,” Gipson mentioned. “A fumble is bad anyway, but I put stress on the D and put them in a bad position. It doesn’t matter, all those good plays and what happened at the beginning, but the main play, you gotta secure it in that situation.”
Fields’ wonderful day continued as he helped the Jets regain the lead midway by the fourth quarter. He rushed for 49 yards throughout that drive alone, which included his nine-yard landing run that gave the Jets a 32-31 lead with 7:01 left. The Jets went for 2, however Fields’ move to Garrett Wilson was incomplete.
With 3:13 remaining, Rodgers and the Steelers had one final alternative to win the sport in regulation. A move interference name on Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens gave Pittsburgh a brand new set of downs on their 48-yard line.
After a passing play, the Steelers misplaced two yards. After an incomplete move by Rodgers, Boswell transformed a 60-yard discipline aim, which gave the Steelers a 34-32 lead with 1:04 remaining.
“We got hosed on a call that we would have been able to run the clock out probably,” Rodgers mentioned in regards to the remaining drive. “However Bos bailed us out with an incredible kick, so it was a very good crew win. A whole lot of new guys made some performs.
“Kenny [Kenneth Gainwell], Jonnu [Smith] made some plays, Jalen [Ramsey] on defense. So, proud of our guys, but it’s just one win.”
Fields and the Jets had one final probability to win the sport, however his move to Wilson fell incomplete. Rodgers then took a knee to finish the triumphant return to MetLife Stadium.
Jets returner and operating again Kene Nwangwu injured his hamstring throughout the first quarter and didn’t return.
The Jets will play their second consecutive dwelling recreation subsequent week once they host division rival Buffalo.
Initially Revealed: September 7, 2025 at 4:27 PM EDT
