One of many largest offseason storylines within the NFL, as these items typically do, was the way forward for Aaron Rodgers. The veteran quarterback’s resolution relating to the place he would play this season lingered by way of the spring and into the early a part of June, when he lastly signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That call was scrutinized within the weeks that adopted, with many questioning if Rodgers might make it work with Mike Tomlin, Arthur Smith, and the remainder of the Pittsburgh teaching employees and roster.
Now granted, it is only one recreation, however the early returns are overwhelmingly constructive.
Rodgers related on 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns, because the Steelers went into MetLife Stadium and knocked off the New York Jets by a ultimate rating of 34-32 within the veteran QB’s Pittsburgh debut.
The brand new Pittsburgh quarterback didn’t begin issues off on the constructive facet of the ledger, as he was sacked on his first play from scrimmage:
Issues improved there for the Pittsburgh offense. Rodgers and the Steelers scored their first landing of the 2025 marketing campaign late within the first quarter, with the quarterback connecting with Ben Skowronek on this 22-yard landing go:
Rodgers’ second landing go of the sport got here on a jet sweep design, with the quarterback flipping the ball ahead to tight finish Jonnu Smith, who scampered round the correct finish for a landing to chop into what was a nine-point lead for the Jets.
His third landing go required a bit extra effort … however not a lot:
After finishing up a run faux on this 1st-and-goal play, the quarterback executes a half roll to the correct earlier than discovering working again Jaylen Warren within the flat. Warren slices into the top zone with the landing, and the Steelers had been again inside two factors of the Jets.
Rodgers’ fourth landing got here once more with the quarterback rolling to the correct, this time with strain bearing down on him. However the veteran was in a position to get sufficient on this throw to attach with Calvin Austin III for the go-ahead rating:
Whereas that landing gave Pittsburgh the lead at 31-26, the Jets didn’t go quietly. Justin Fields drove New York 67 yards in 12 performs, scoring on a one-yard landing run to the correct facet with simply over seven minutes left to offer the Jets a 32-31 lead.
However Rodgers was not accomplished for the day.
After the groups traded punts, the Steelers took over on their very own 19-yard line with 3:13 remaining within the recreation. Rodgers drove the Pittsburgh offense into discipline aim vary.
With a bit assist alongside the way in which:
What had the potential to be a game-sealing interception for the Jets ended up within the fingers of DK Metcalf, who was mendacity down on the MetLife Stadium turf when he made the reception. The highlight-reel catch gave the Steelers a recent set of downs on the New York 41-yard line.
Just a few performs later, Chris Boswell transformed a 60-yard discipline aim — that may have been good from 65 yards or longer — and the Steelers had the lead again, 34-32.
Fields and the Jets nonetheless had time, however a giant hit from Jalen Ramsey on Garrett Wilson on a fourth-down play pressured an incompletion, and the Steelers ran out the clock.
And Rodgers had his first win in black and gold.
After the victory, Tomlin praised his new quarterback:
Once more, this is only one recreation and one win. But it surely meant quite a bit to Rodgers to beat his former workforce:
For a franchise that has struggled to stabilize the quarterback place these previous few seasons, that is the type of recreation the Steelers and their followers had been ready to see from their new quarterback.
