Aaron Rodgers, Chris Boswell Deliver in Steelers’ Thrilling Week 1 Win Over Jets
Rodgers, Boswell Shine in Steelers’ Season-Opening Thriller
The Pittsburgh Steelers wasted no time making a statement in the Aaron Rodgers era, rallying late to defeat the New York Jets 34–32 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The victory marked Pittsburgh’s first of the season and showed flashes of exactly why Rodgers was brought in to elevate the offense.
Rodgers, facing his former AFC East rivals, was electric. In a game that seemed like a low-scoring affair, it turned into a late-game nail-biter. According to Pro Football Reference, the veteran quarterback finished 22-of-30 for 244 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions, his 507th career touchdown pass leaving him just one shy of Brett Favre on the all-time list. His ability to hold his presence in the pocket under pressure was shown during the fourth quarter, when he tossed two touchdowns in 50 seconds to flip a nine-point deficit into a late Steelers lead.
The Jets, led by former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, refused to go quietly. Fields accounted for three total touchdowns (one passing, two rushing) and 266 total yards. His fourth down run with under five minutes left gave New York a 32–31 lead. Per Next Gen Stats, Fields averaged 4.8 yards per carry and had 48 of his rushing yards on designed runs, keeping Pittsburgh’s defense off balance throughout most of the game.
The afternoon belonged to Chris Boswell. With 1:03 left, the veteran kicker drilled a career-long 60-yard field goal, setting a new Steelers franchise record.
Keys to the Game
In my Week 1 preview, I highlighted three “Keys to the Game”: DK Metcalf vs Sauce Gardner, Rodgers' reliability, and Watts' motor. All three worked out.
DK Metcalf’s size and speed blend made a great matchup with Sauce Gardner’s elite coverage skills, both star playmakers on the perimeter throughout the game. Aaron Rodgers once again showed why he’s considered one of the most reliable quarterbacks in football with his four-touchdown performance in his Steelers debut. The cherry on top was T.J. Watt’s relentless motor, which never wavered, as his constant pressure set the tone for Pittsburgh’s defense throughout the game.
Looking Ahead
Mike Tomlin’s group now turns its attention to Week 2, where the Steelers will host the Sam Darnold-led Seahawks. For a team that has often leaned on defense and special teams in recent years, today's win showed that the 2025 Steelers might finally have the assets to compete past the wildcard.