In what was one of the more exciting games of the Week 1 slate, the Pittsburgh Steelers barely topped the New York Jets on Sunday, 34-32.
Both offenses came to play on Sunday, with the Steelers and Jets combining for over 650 total yards of offense. In what was their first games against their old squads, Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields delivered.
However, it was the Steelers who got the last laugh. Rodgers managed to drive the Steelers far enough to get into range for a 60-yard field goal in the final minute and superstar kicker Chris Boswell drilled it for the game-winner.
The Jets did get one last chance to win the game, but Pittsburgh's defense was able to get the stop to come away with the victory.
Now, here's a look at the biggest overreactions from Week 1, along with one non-overreaction.
Not an overreaction: Broderick Jones is bad
Broderick Jones was getting cooked all game long. He gave up several pressures and multiple sacks against the Jets' defense.
We know, it's just one game, but Jones has not been good since last season and now that appears to be carrying over into 2025. The Steelers have a major problem at left tackle.
Aaron Rodgers is elite again!
Rodgers had struggled mightily in Week 1 games the last four years, but that was not the case on Sunday. The future Hall of Famer completed 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns and looked fantastic.
The level of quarterback play we saw from Rodgers was far better than anything we saw in 2024 from either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, and the team scored 30 points for the first time since 2016 with Rodgers at the helm.
If Rodgers can continue playing like this, the Steelers are going to be in great shape.
Rodgers looked like his elite self again on Sunday, but we aren't ready to proclaim him fully back just yet. There's a long season to go for the 41-year-old, and lest we forget there was a lot of Wilson hype before he crashed and burned last season.
The defense stinks!
Justin Fields couldn't buy points with the Steelers last season, yet Pittsburgh made him look like the GOAT on Sunday.
Fields did just about whatever he wanted (except putting together a game-winning drive), completing 16-of-22 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown while adding 12 carries for 48 yards. Garrett Wilson torched the Steelers, also, reeling in seven catches for 95 yards and one score.
The Jets ran the ball as they pleased, racking up 182 yards on 39 carries. Breece Hall was responsible for 107 of them on 19 carries.
In fairness to the Steelers' defense, this was the first game of the season and the unit does have some new pieces. Pittsburgh was also missing Derrick Harmon, which is a significant deal.
We're not going to go crazy over Sunday's performance and will give the Steelers the benefit of the doubt that they can turn things around moving forward.
Steelers have an RB problem!
Pittsburgh couldn't get anything going on the ground, with the team averaging less than three yards per carry in all (19 carries, 54 yards). We also saw both Kenneth Gainwell and Kaleb Johnson fumble, but thankfully they both recovered.
Jaylen Warren led the way with 11 carries and 37 yards, but there was a point where Gainwell was getting more work until the Steelers remembered that Warren is supposed to be their lead back.
All that said, a lot of Pittsburgh's struggles on the ground were offensive line-related. That is concerning, but we're not pushing the panic button on the team's rushing attack just yet.
MORE NFL NEWS
- Aidan Hutchinson contract update after Jameson Williams gets new deal
- Adam Schefter reveals likely debut date for Browns' Quinshon Judkins
- Chiefs get devastating injury update on Xavier Worthy
- Ladd McConkey calls out Ryan Clark over Justin Herbert comment
- Possible Jalen Carter suspension would have big implications on Eagles deal