In a back-and-forth opener at MetLife Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers rallied from a nine-point hole late in the third quarter to edge the New York Jets, 34–32. Trailing 32–31 with 3:12 to play, Pittsburgh methodically moved into field-goal range and sent kicker Chris Boswell out for a franchise-record 60-yard boot, which split the uprights with 1:03 remaining. The comeback secured a 1–0 start for the Steelers and handed the Jets their first loss of the season.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sharp in his Steelers debut, going 22-of-30 for 244 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. His scoring strikes found four different targets: Ben Skowronek (22 yards), Jonnu Smith (3 yards), Calvin Austin III (18 yards) and Jaylen Warren (5 yards). On the other sideline, Justin Fields finished 16-of-22 for 218 yards and one touchdown through the air, and added 48 rushing yards with two one-yard touchdown dives. Garrett Wilson led all receivers with seven catches for 82 yards and the lone Jets passing TD. Boswell accounted for 10 points, converting a 56-yard field goal and the game-winner from 60 yards, plus hitting all four extra points.
The Jets struck first when Nick Folk drilled a 35-yard field goal late in the first quarter. Pittsburgh responded on its next drive, as Rodgers carved up the Jets secondary and hit Skowronek on a 22-yard touchdown, giving the Steelers a 7–3 edge. New York answered before the quarter ended, with Fields finding Wilson from 33 yards out, though the extra point was missed, a penalty called on Pittsburgh, and then New York failing to convert their two-point conversion, the Jets led 9–7. Early in the second quarter, Boswell’s 56-yard field goal reclaimed the lead for Pittsburgh, 10–9. New York then flipped momentum on Braelon Allen’s 8-yard rush and Folk’s 51-yard field goal, pushing the Jets ahead, 19–10. Rodgers capped the half with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Smith, narrowing the deficit to 19–17 at intermission.
The Jets extended their advantage early in the third quarter when Fields broke off a 2-yard touchdown run and added the extra point, making it 26–17. Pittsburgh’s defense stiffened in the fourth, but the offense needed time to swing the game back in its favor.
Rodgers ignited the comeback with a 5-yard scoring pass to Warren that trimmed New York’s lead to 26–24. Just 50 seconds later, he struck again, this time an 18-yard dart to Austin, to give the Steelers a 31–26 lead. Kennth Gainwell made a huge play on special teams when he stripped the ball from kick returner Xavier Gipson, which led to the Rodgers-Austin touchdown. The Jets countered when Fields punched in a 1-yard touchdown run, but a failed two-point try left them up 32–31. After a three-and-out, Rodgers led the decisive drive, and Boswell’s historic 60-yard field goal sealed the 34–32 victory. Pittsburgh’s defensive back Jalen Ramsey came up huge on fourth down with a hard hit on Garett Wilson to preserve the win.
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Next up for the Steelers is a Week 2 home game against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle opened the season with a 17-13 loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers.
(photo courtesy of Sportsnet)