Lead
On Sept. 7, 2025 at MetLife Stadium the Pittsburgh Steelers opened the regular season with a 34-32 victory over the New York Jets. Aaron Rodgers paced the offense, throwing four touchdown passes and completing 73.3% of his throws, while Jalen Ramsey delivered a decisive late pass breakup and Chris Boswell drilled a 60-yard field goal with 63 seconds remaining. The win masked clear areas needing improvement—most notably run defense and pass protection—but it provided instant returns on high-profile roster moves made this offseason. Head coach Mike Tomlin called the game a razor-close test decided by a few pivotal plays.
Key Takeaways
- Aaron Rodgers completed 73.3% of his passes with 4 TDs, a 136.7 passer rating and no turnovers, powering the offense in his Steelers debut.
- Jalen Ramsey’s fourth-down pass breakup on Garrett Wilson late in the fourth quarter prevented a likely game-tying or game-winning Jets opportunity.
- Chris Boswell hit a 60-yard field goal with 63 seconds left to put Pittsburgh ahead, reaffirming his reputation as a clutch placekicker.
- The Steelers allowed 182 rushing yards on 39 attempts (4.7 yards per carry) and surrendered a 9:26 deficit in time of possession to New York.
- Since Ben Roethlisberger retired after 2021, Pittsburgh had 51 regular-season games with only 5 opening-possession TDs; Rodgers ended that drought with a 71-yard, 10-play touchdown drive to open the game.
- Pittsburgh was 3-for-3 in the red zone and produced 34 points — one of only six 30-plus games tied to the 51-game stretch referenced.
- Tomlin acknowledged shortcomings in run defense, protection on play-action and pass rush versus Justin Fields, signaling immediate priorities for Week 2 adjustments.
Background
The Steelers entered 2025 after one of the most active offseasons in recent franchise history, investing in veteran talent on both sides of the ball to shorten a rebuild. The most consequential additions were a veteran quarterback to steady the offense, an experienced defensive playmaker to add communication and tempo on the back end, and the continuation of a proven special-teams weapon. Pittsburgh’s roster choices responded to multi-year issues at quarterback, inconsistency in the secondary and special-teams reliability.
From the end of Ben Roethlisberger’s career in 2021 through the 51-game span that followed, the Steelers rotated eight quarterbacks who combined for 45 touchdown passes and only five opening-possession touchdowns in regular-season play. That instability shaped a front-office strategy centered on bringing in proven leaders who could deliver immediately. The team also aimed to fix a run defense that finished the 2024 calendar with several high-yardage outings by opponents.
Main Event
The game opened with Aaron Rodgers engineering a 71-yard drive in 10 plays, converting the Jets’ field goal response into an opening-possession touchdown — a play Pittsburgh had rarely executed in the post-Roethlisberger era. Rodgers’ day encompassed crisp timing on intermediate throws and four red-zone completions that produced touchdowns instead of field goals. His 0-turnover performance and late-game composure kept the offense on schedule in high-leverage moments.
Despite the final score, Pittsburgh struggled to contain New York’s rushing attack. The Jets gained 182 rushing yards on 39 attempts and owned a 9-minute, 26-second advantage in time of possession, allowing them to sustain drives even when the Steelers forced third-and-long. Several negative offensive plays — sacks on play-action and stalled drives — forced the Steelers into situations where clutch kicking and late defensive plays became decisive.
The game’s decisive defensive sequence came late when Jalen Ramsey closed on a timely throw to Garrett Wilson on fourth-and-3 with 18 seconds remaining in a two-point game, prying the ball free and preventing a likely tying score. That single play removed the Jets’ opportunity for a final 49-yard field-goal attempt in regulation. Immediately after, Chris Boswell converted a long field goal earlier and then delivered the 60-yarder that pushed Pittsburgh ahead with just over a minute to play.
Analysis & Implications
On offense, Rodgers provided the leadership and situational acumen Pittsburgh has lacked since 2022. His high completion rate (73.3%) and perfect red-zone efficiency (3-for-3) suggest the offense can be both efficient and explosive when protected and given time. Rodgers’ presence reduces variance intrinsic to younger quarterbacks and should improve third-down conversion and late-game management across the season.
Defensively, Ramsey’s gamebreaking snap illustrates the value of an experienced playmaker capable of timing high-impact moments. However, the run defense metrics are an inescapable worry: 182 yards allowed and a 4.7 yards-per-carry average highlight schematic or execution gaps—particularly against designed run-pass option (RPO) packages. If those weaknesses persist, opponents will sustain longer drives and limit scoring opportunities for Rodgers’ offense.
Special teams remain a strength. Boswell’s 60-yard field goal was both a statistical outlier in difficulty and a practical game-winner. Dependable kicking lengthens the field-goal range that Pittsburgh can trust in late-game situations, effectively serving as an offensive extension in tight contests.
Looking ahead, the Steelers must prioritize increased pass rush to disrupt quarterbacks like Justin Fields and better gap discipline against the run. If they can shore up those areas without diminishing Rodgers’ protection, Pittsburgh’s roster could convert close games into consistent wins; failure to correct would force dependence on late-game heroics.
Comparison & Data
| Category | Week 1 (vs. Jets) | Recent Past Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | 73.3% comp., 4 TDs, 136.7 rating, 0 INTs | Return to high-efficiency QB play not seen consistently in 51-game post-Roethlisberger span |
| Rush Defense | 182 yards on 39 attempts (4.7 ypc) | Followed 2024 late-season games allowing 131, 220 and 299 rushing yards on Dec. 15, Dec. 21 and Wild Card |
| Special Teams | 60-yard FG (Boswell) with 63 seconds left | Continues Boswell’s track record in high-pressure situations |
The table underscores contrasts: elite quarterback play and elite kicking versus a defense that still yields significant rushing yardage. Context: the December 2024 games cited (Philadelphia 131 yards on Dec. 15; Baltimore 220 yards on Dec. 21; Ravens 299 yards in the Wild Card) reflect a pattern that must be corrected to sustain a deep postseason run.
Reactions & Quotes
“A lot of teachable tape out there, but when we needed a drive, we got the job done,” Rodgers said in a postgame interview, stressing both the win and the work ahead.
Aaron Rodgers / Quarterback (postgame)
“I tip my cap to the New York Jets. They were a worthy opponent… We made about one or two more plays than they did,” Coach Mike Tomlin said, and he later flagged run defense and protection as immediate priorities.
Mike Tomlin / Head Coach (postgame)
“Our kicker is a serial killer, he’s got a low pulse rate, he can’t wait to deliver,” Tomlin added when describing Boswell’s temperament in clutch moments.
Mike Tomlin / Head Coach (postgame)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Rodgers can sustain this level of production across a full season without interruption; long-term durability remains an open question.
- If Pittsburgh’s run-defense issues will be purely schematic or if personnel changes will be required; coaches indicated internal corrections first.
- Whether Ramsey’s late-game play represents a consistent trend or an impactful single moment; more film is needed to evaluate season-long effect.
Bottom Line
Pittsburgh’s 34-32 win at the Jets was decided by timely plays from new and established difference-makers: Aaron Rodgers provided offensive control, Jalen Ramsey supplied a game-clinching defensive play, and Chris Boswell made the long kick to seal the outcome. The scoreboard outcome validates the front office investment in experienced, high-impact veterans.
At the same time, the game exposed continuing vulnerabilities—chiefly run defense and occasional breakdowns in pass protection—that must be corrected quickly. The Week 1 victory buys the Steelers confidence and a modest margin for error, but sustained success will require the coaching staff to translate Saturday’s adjustments into consistent weekly improvement.
Sources
- Steelers.com — official team site and postgame reporting (team/official)
- NFL.com — league statistics and official game summary (official/league)
- CBS Sports — postgame interview coverage and broadcast excerpts (media)
- Pro-Football-Reference — historical game logs and comparative statistics (independent research)