Aaron Rodgers returned to his former neighborhood on Sunday.
After the Jets released him in March, Rodgers got his revenge on Aaron Glenn and the Jets.
Rodgers completed 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns in the Steelers’ (1-0) 34-32 win against the Jets (0-1) at MetLife Stadium.
Both Rodgers and Justin Fields were outstanding in their debuts. Rodgers completed 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Fields completed 16-of-21 passes for 216 yards with two touchdowns.
It was the first season opener in NFL history between starting quarterbacks who swapped teams during the offseason. Sunday also marked Aaron Glenn’s first game as Jets coach.
Rodgers was 6-12 as the Jets’ starting quarterback, which will mostly be remembered for his Achilles tear during his debut with the team in 2023. He returned the following year, but the Jets finished with a disappointing 5-12 record, which saw both coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas fired.
Throughout the week leading up to the game, Rodgers downplayed the significance of the matchup against his former team. Many of his former Jets teammates and even Glenn himself didn’t have much to say about Rodgers.
Same with Fields after spending all of last season with the Steelers, after the Bears traded him following three seasons in Chicago. After the Jets released Rodgers, they signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed.
In 26 of the previous 29 seasons, at least one team that has finished in last place has qualified for the postseason. Glenn hopes the Jets will be the 27th in 30 seasons.
During the offseason, Glenn wanted to instill a culture change of old-school toughness in the Jets. That includes being a run-heavy offense revolving around Fields’ ability to scramble outside the pocket.
That was on display early on Sunday when the Jets registered 106 yards on the ground in the first half. Fields was also equally impressive through the air after completing 9-of-11 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in the first 30 minutes.
Sunday marked the first time since 2016 that the Jets scored on their first four possessions. In addition, the Jets did not punt the entire first half for the first time since 1991.
Rodgers registered his second touchdown pass before the half on a three-yard touch pass to Jonnu Smith, which cut the Jets’ lead to 19-17. The Jets increased their lead to 26-17 in the third quarter after Fields scored on a two-yard quarterback run.
To begin the fourth quarter, the Steelers cut their deficit to two points after Rodgers threw his third touchdown pass of the day to Jaylen Warren, which made the score 26-24.
On the following kick return, disaster struck for the Jets when Xavier Gipson fumbled the ball at the 20-yard line, which Skowronek recovered. Two plays later, Rodgers’ 18-yard pass to Calvin Austin gave the Steelers a 31-26 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Fields’ excellent day continued as he helped the Jets regain the lead halfway through the fourth quarter. He rushed for 49 yards during that drive alone, which included his nine-yard touchdown run that gave the Jets a 32-31 lead with 7:01 left. The Jets went for two, but Fields’ pass to Garrett Wilson was incomplete.
With 3:13 remaining, Rodgers and the Steelers had one last opportunity to win the game in regulation. A pass interference call on Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens gave Pittsburgh a new set of downs on their 48-yard line.
After a passing play, the Steelers lost two yards. After an incomplete pass by Rodgers, Boswell converted a 60-yard field goal, which gave the Steelers a 34-32 lead with 1:04 remaining.
Fields and the Jets had one last chance to win the game, but his pass to Wilson fell incomplete.
The Jets will play their second consecutive home game next week when they host division rival Buffalo.
