Steelers vs. Jets Week 1 Preview: Keys to Game and Final Prediction
Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
The 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers NFL season starts with a storyline game: the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by former Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Jets. Rodgers’ return to face his old team adds drama, while Jets QB Justin Fields brings a fresh dynamic under center after spending his last season with the Steelers, only starting until current Giants quarterback Russell Wilson took the helm. This game carries narrative weight, but its outcome will be decided by performance and matchups by all.
Keys to the Game
1. Rodgers Week-1 Reliability
Aaron Rodgers carries a strong Week 1 track record. Over 17 career openers, he posted a 97.1 passer rating, throwing 28 touchdown passes against just 10 interceptions, per StatMuse. His experience in early-season settings gives Pittsburgh a potential edge in managing mistakes and setting the pace early on in the game with an experienced veteran like Rodgers leading the way.
2. Sauce Gardner vs. DK Metcalf
Jets All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner is tasked with slowing down the physical and dynamic DK Metcalf. Metcalf is one of the league's greatest when it comes to downfield playmaking and is a force to be reckoned with when contested. Gardner held Metcalf in check last season in what seemed to be a down year for Metcalf. Metcalf’s familiarity with the Jets' defense could tip the matchup in Pittsburgh’s favor. Winning this battle against one of the league's best defensive backs may determine who controls the passing game’s tempo, per The Washington Post.
3. Watt’s Relentless Motor
T.J. Watt remains a game-wrecker even when heavily schemed against. In 2024, he recorded 57 pressures and 11.5 sacks in 599 pass-rush snaps, per Steelers Depot. Teams chipped him on a league-high 31.6% of these snaps; this shows how much attention he draws, per Still Curtain. Maintaining pressure without overcommitting on blockers will be vital for the Steelers, and overcoming that attention may open opportunities elsewhere for players like Payton Wilson and Alex Highsmith, who are similarly dominant and play complementary to Watts' game.
Prediction
This will be a game of overall talent and will to win. This will be a low-scoring game. Rodgers’ reliable Week 1 play and ability to make timely throws give Pittsburgh a slight edge. However, anything can happen, and we may not see the connection and fluidity of this Pittsburgh offense in game one of the season. This takes time and a genuine trust in each other, which this offense has yet to experience. The same goes for the Jets as well. Watt’s presence will challenge Fields every dropback. Expect Pittsburgh to edge out New York in a tight game, and my final prediction is a Steelers victory.
Steelers 21, Jets 10