By Ray Porter Jr. for Urban Media Today
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ-It took a battle, but the Pittsburgh Steelers started the 2025 season on the right note as they beat the NY Jets 34-32 at MetLife Stadium.
“Man, wow that was fun and challenging at the same time, man. The NFL season is back. 60 minutes of football man, I tip my cap to the New York Jets,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “They were a worthy opponent, they fought, they really put it up against us. Challenged us in a lot of ways, there’s some unknowns sometimes when you’re playing a new staff. I thought we exposed in some of those spaces at times, but I thought the coaches did a really good job of communication, the players did a real good job of communicating and adjusting.”
The lead changed several times, with the game being a showcase of both QBs playing against their former teams: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (played for the Jets in 2023-34) vs. the Jets QB Justin Fields (Played for the Steelers in 2024) and both Signal-Callers did not disappoint as Rodgers finished with 244 yards (22/30) and 4 TDs and Fields finishing with 218 yards (16-22) , a passing TD and 2 rushing TDs. He also ran 12 times for 48 yards.
Rodgers TDs were to WR Ben Skrowneck, Calvin Austin III (4 rec, 70), RB Jaylen Warren and TE Jonnu Smith (5 Rec, 15 yards) He also completed key passes to WR DK Metcalf (4 rec, 83 yards) and TE Pat Freiermuth (3 rec, 28 yards).
“I just thought he was game all day. But again, you guys asked me last week, why was I confident. That’s why I was confident,” said Tomlin on Rodgers. “That’s what I’ve been looking at in preparation, and I’m appreciative of it, not only his efforts but the efforts of the collective.”
Fields lone TD pass was to WR Garrett Wilson (7 rec, 95) but he kept the Steelers on their feet with sustaining drives that continued to result in points.
“We didn’t put enough pressure on (Jets QB) Justin (Fields),” said Tomlin. “There were instances when we weren’t good enough when he walked in. You know the keeper on the touchdown for example. There were some instances where he simply won, we had an appropriate number of people and that’s what’s challenging about quarterback mobility. Particularly, the plus-one running game when it’s designed runs. There’s not a lot of game tackling under those circumstances; there’s a bunch of one-on-one football and when big-time athletes get in one-on-one circumstances, often times they win, and he showed us some of that. Not that we were surprised by that, that was on our team a year ago.”
The Steelers defense was also challenged by the Jets run game as they finished with 182 yards on 39 carries as a team, with 107 coming from RB Breece Hall. “Weren’t good enough in the running game, particularly the RPO running game,” Tomlin assessed.
But still, the Steelers persevered and fought back, especially when they took a 26-17 lead late in the game. Rodgers TD to Warren brought the Steelers close within 26-24 of the Jets, and on the ensuing kickoff, RB Kenneth Gainwell stripped the ball from the Jets Xavier Gipson and was recovered by Skowronek. Rodgers would then find Austin for a 18-yard TD and a 31-26 Steelers lead.
“Can’t say enough about Kenny G (RB Kenneth Gainwell),” said Tomlin. “That offensive player making a tackle on kickoff and knocking that ball loose, I think (WR Ben) Skowronek recovered, man, it’s just an example of making plays in all three phasing and being a football player first and a positional player section.”
But the Jets weren’t done as they would score again on a 1-yard TD by Fields in which he faked out the entire Steelers defense, giving them a 32-31 lead. Then Rodgers led the Steelers on a final drive that set up a game-winning 60-yard FG by K Chris Boswell, giving the Steelers a 34-32 lead. Boswell is the first Steelers kicker to successfully kick a FG for at least 60 yards. He previously held the team record of 59 yards, which he did twice.
“I can’t say enough about Bos (K Chris Boswell). Our kicker is a serial killer, he’s got a low pulse rate, he can’t wait to deliver,” said Tomlin.
With 25 seconds left the game, Fields and the Jets tried to get the ball into FG range, but it was to no avail as his pass to Wilson fell incomplete on 4th down after getting hit by Steelers CB Jalen Ramsey. Game over, Steelers win.
“I’m glad he’s on my team,” said Tomlin about Ramsey. “I’ve seen it in stadiums before. A lot of these new Steelers, man, we’ve covered it for a long time and sometimes it’s just about an opportunity. I’ve certainly been an appreciator of his skills and talents. Can’t say enough about him.”
The Steelers will now return home and prepare to play against the 0-1 Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium. “I’m excited about the next week’s process, got an opportunity to get a lot better between Week 1 and Week 2, we’re going to need to obviously,” commented Tomlin.
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