Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets match player stats from Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season delivered one of the most dramatic season openers in years — a 34-32 Steelers victory at MetLife Stadium on September 7, 2025.
Aaron Rodgers returned to his former home and torched the Jets with four touchdown passes.
Justin Fields, playing against his former Steelers teammates, fought back with two rushing scores and a determined second half. Chris Boswell sealed it with a career-long 60-yard field goal.
Final Score and Game Summary
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New York Jets 34-32 in the 2025 NFL season opener at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The game was broadcast nationally on CBS.
Pittsburgh improved to 1-0 to begin their 2025 campaign. New York fell to 0-1 despite out-gaining the Steelers 394 to 271 in total yards and dominating time of possession 34:43 to 25:17.
The Jets outrushed Pittsburgh 182 to 53 and held the Steelers to a paltry 2.6 yards per rush attempt. Yet Pittsburgh won because of turnovers, clutch play, and the brilliance of Aaron Rodgers when the game was on the line.
| Category | Pittsburgh Steelers | New York Jets |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 34 | 32 |
| Total Yards | 271 | 394 |
| Total Plays | 54 | 62 |
| Yards Per Play | 5.0 | 6.4 |
| Passing Yards | 218 | 212 |
| Rushing Yards | 53 | 182 |
| Rush Average | 2.6 | 4.7 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Penalties | — | 7 |
| Red Zone (Att-TD) | 3-3 (100%) | 3-4 (75%) |
| Time of Possession | 25:17 | 34:43 |
| Sacks Taken | 4 | 1 |
The numbers were convincingly in New York’s favor for most of the game. But one special teams fumble, two failed two-point conversions, and a 60-yard Boswell game-winner told a different story.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets Match Player Stats — Passing
The Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets match player stats in the passing game were defined by an extraordinary quarterback duel between two men each playing against their former team on the same day — a true NFL first.
Aaron Rodgers — Pittsburgh Steelers
Rodgers made his Steelers debut at 41 years old and delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career against the team that released him just months earlier.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Completions / Attempts | 22 / 30 |
| Passing Yards | 244 |
| Touchdowns | 4 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Passer Rating | 128.5 |
| Completion % | 73.3% |
| Yards Per Attempt | 8.1 |
| Sacks Taken | 4 |
Rodgers’ four passing touchdowns went to four different receivers: Ben Skowronek (22 yards), Jonnu Smith (3 yards), Jaylen Warren (5 yards), and Calvin Austin III (18 yards). He was sacked four times but never threw a pick and never flinched under pressure.
Two of those four touchdowns came in an extraordinary 50-second burst in the fourth quarter that erased a 26-17 New York lead. It was one of the most dramatic individual second-half rallies in a Week 1 game in NFL memory.
Rodgers also hit a major career milestone in this game. His performance gave him 507 career regular-season touchdown passes — putting him one behind Brett Favre for fourth on the all-time list. He was the fifth player in NFL history to cross 500 regular-season touchdown passes, a mark he had reached weeks earlier in the 2024 finale.
Rodgers also made NFL history by becoming the first player ever to throw four touchdown passes against two different former teams in consecutive games — having thrown four TDs in his final Jets game against Miami in January 2025.
Justin Fields — New York Jets
Fields played against his former Pittsburgh team in his Jets debut and was superb for most of the afternoon. He was not the reason New York lost.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Completions / Attempts | 16 / 22 |
| Passing Yards | 218 |
| Touchdowns (Pass) | 1 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Rushing Carries | 12 |
| Rushing Yards | 48 |
| Rushing TDs | 2 |
| Total TDs | 3 |
| Completion % | 72.7% |
Fields was accurate, explosive, and composed throughout. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 134 yards and accounted for four of New York’s big plays (15+ yards) in the first half alone — three through the air and one with his legs.
His second rushing touchdown — a brilliantly executed 1-yard quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal with 7:01 remaining — gave the Jets a 32-31 lead. His failed two-point conversion pass to Garrett Wilson immediately after left the door open for Pittsburgh.
Fields also set an NFL record alongside Rodgers. This was the first Week 1 game in NFL history where both starting quarterbacks were facing the teams for which they had started the previous year’s season opener.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets Match Player Stats — Receiving
Pittsburgh Steelers Receiving Stats
Rodgers spread the ball to eight different targets, with DK Metcalf leading all Steelers pass-catchers in yards on his Pittsburgh debut.
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK Metcalf | 4 | 83 | 0 | 6 |
| Calvin Austin III | 4 | 62 | 1 | 5 |
| Jonnu Smith | 3 | 22 | 1 | 4 |
| Ben Skowronek | 2 | 26 | 1 | 3 |
| Jaylen Warren | 3 | 14 | 1 | 4 |
| Pat Freiermuth | 2 | 24 | 0 | 3 |
DK Metcalf made his Steelers debut in spectacular fashion. He led Pittsburgh with 83 receiving yards on just four catches, including a 31-yard gain on a screen play and a memorable 11-yard pinball catch on the final drive — a ball that ricocheted off his hands, was tipped by Sauce Gardner, deflected off Andre Cisco, grazed Jonnu Smith, and then somehow landed back in Metcalf’s grasp in one of the wildest plays of the entire season.
Calvin Austin III made the go-ahead score count. His 18-yard touchdown on the second of Rodgers’ two fourth-quarter TDs — 50 seconds after the Jaylen Warren score — gave Pittsburgh the lead for good at 31-26. Austin finished with 62 yards on four catches.
Ben Skowronek did double duty. He caught Rodgers’ first touchdown pass as a Steeler (22 yards), and then recovered the Xavier Gipson kickoff fumble that directly set up Austin’s game-changing score.
New York Jets Receiving Stats
Garrett Wilson was the Jets’ most dangerous offensive weapon all afternoon, battling Pittsburgh’s secondary on every snap.
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett Wilson | 7 | 95 | 1 | 10 |
| Breece Hall | 2 | 38 | 0 | 4 |
| Allen Lazard | 3 | 44 | 0 | 5 |
| Braelon Allen | 2 | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| Mason Taylor | 1 | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Kene Nwangwu | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
Garrett Wilson caught 7 of 10 targets for 95 yards and a 33-yard first-quarter touchdown — his first score of the 2025 season. He had a career-high rapport with his former Ohio State teammate Fields and was the most consistent weapon in New York’s arsenal all afternoon.
Wilson’s afternoon ended painfully. On fourth-and-3 with 56 seconds remaining, with New York trailing 34-32, Fields hit Wilson for what would have been a first down — but Jalen Ramsey delivered a violent, game-sealing hit that knocked the ball loose. The Jets’ season opener ended right there.
Breece Hall added 38 yards on two receptions from the backfield on top of his dominant rushing performance. He totalled 145 scrimmage yards on the day, reminding everyone why he is one of the best receiving backs in the AFC.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets Match Player Stats — Rushing
Pittsburgh Steelers Rushing Stats
Pittsburgh’s run game was genuinely poor by most standards — 53 total yards on 20 carries. But it didn’t cost them the game.
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Warren | 9 | 34 | 3.78 | 1 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | 5 | 11 | 2.20 | 0 |
| Aaron Rodgers | 3 | 8 | 2.67 | 0 |
| Kaleb Johnson | 3 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
Jaylen Warren was the primary ball carrier with 34 yards on 9 attempts. He also caught Rodgers’ third touchdown pass of the day — a 5-yard score in the fourth quarter — as part of Pittsburgh’s remarkable two-score rally.
Kenneth Gainwell was not a significant rushing force but played a key role in special teams. He forced the Xavier Gipson fumble on the kickoff that changed the game, and Ben Skowronek recovered. That single play led directly to Rodgers’ fourth touchdown and the go-ahead score.
New York Jets Rushing Stats
The Jets’ ground game was the most dominant element of New York’s entire performance — and yet it still wasn’t enough.
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breece Hall | 19 | 107 | 5.63 | 0 |
| Braelon Allen | 9 | 36 | 4.00 | 0 |
| Justin Fields | 12 | 48 | 4.00 | 2 |
| Braelon Allen (KR) | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
Breece Hall was unstoppable on the ground. His 107 yards on 19 carries came against a Pittsburgh front that had ranked among the best run-stopping defenses in 2024. He averaged 5.63 yards per carry and showed elite balance and burst throughout.
Hall’s rushing performance matched his 2 career games vs. Pittsburgh average of 109.5 scrimmage yards per game. Despite his brilliance, he never crossed the goal line, and New York’s two-point conversion failures proved decisive.
Justin Fields added 48 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 designed carries and scrambles. His second score — the fourth-down keeper on a beautiful play-fake to Hall with 7:01 remaining — was the game’s finest individual play. It just wasn’t enough.
Scoring Summary — Drive by Drive
| Quarter | Scoring Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | NYJ — Nick Folk 35-yd FG | PIT 0, NYJ 3 |
| Q1 | PIT — Ben Skowronek 22-yd TD pass (Rodgers) / PAT good | PIT 7, NYJ 3 |
| Q1 | NYJ — Garrett Wilson 33-yd TD pass (Fields) / 2pt failed | PIT 7, NYJ 9 |
| Q2 | PIT — Jonnu Smith 3-yd TD pass (Rodgers) / PAT good | PIT 14, NYJ 9 |
| Q2 | NYJ — Nick Folk 35-yd FG | PIT 14, NYJ 12 |
| Q2 | NYJ — Justin Fields 4-yd TD run / PAT good | PIT 14, NYJ 19 |
| Q3 | NYJ — Nick Folk 51-yd FG | PIT 14, NYJ 22 |
| Q3 | NYJ — Braelon Allen 1-yd TD run / 2pt failed | PIT 14, NYJ 28 — wait, corrected below |
| Q4 | NYJ — Justin Fields QB sneak / PAT good | PIT 17, NYJ 26 |
| Q4 | PIT — Jaylen Warren 5-yd TD pass (Rodgers) / PAT good | PIT 24, NYJ 26 |
| Q4 | PIT — Calvin Austin III 18-yd TD pass (Rodgers) / PAT good | PIT 31, NYJ 26 |
| Q4 | NYJ — Justin Fields 1-yd TD run / 2pt failed | PIT 31, NYJ 32 |
| Q4 | PIT — Chris Boswell 60-yd FG | PIT 34, NYJ 32 |
Two failed two-point conversions by New York changed the entire final scoreboard. Had either attempt succeeded, Pittsburgh’s game-winning field goal would not have been enough.
New York’s decision to go for two after their first touchdown (which drew a penalty giving them the option to try it from closer range) set up a pattern — aggressive calls that backfired at the worst moments.
Key Storylines from the Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets Match
Rodgers’ Revenge Tour Begins
Aaron Rodgers was released by the New York Jets in February 2025 after two disappointing seasons that included a catastrophic Achilles tear in his first game back in 2023. He was openly critical of the organization’s handling of his departure.
His four-touchdown, zero-interception masterclass against his former team was the most watched Week 1 performance of the 2025 season. He became the first player since Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2010 to throw four touchdown passes against a former team.
He then said postgame with characteristic bluntness: “I was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets.”
Fields vs. Former Team
Justin Fields had gone 4-2 as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback in 2025, filling in for an injured Russell Wilson. He then signed a two-year, $40 million contract with New York in the offseason.
His Jets debut was strong — 218 passing yards, a touchdown pass, and two rushing scores. He gave the Jets the lead four times and fought back after every Pittsburgh surge.
His final fourth-and-short attempt, connecting with Wilson for a potential game-winning first down, was ripped away by Jalen Ramsey’s bone-rattling hit. A brilliant debut ended in heartbreak.
The 50-Second Fourth Quarter Blitz
Pittsburgh trailed 26-17 entering the fourth quarter. What happened next was remarkable.
Rodgers hit Jaylen Warren for a 5-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 26-24. Then — 50 seconds later — after Kenneth Gainwell forced a Xavier Gipson fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Ben Skowronek recovered it, Rodgers fired an 18-yard strike to Calvin Austin III for the lead.
Two touchdowns in 50 seconds. Pittsburgh went from down nine to up five without the Jets’ offense stepping back on the field.
The Boswell Game-Winner
Chris Boswell’s 60-yard game-winning field goal with 1:03 remaining was the longest kick of his career and the longest game-winning field goal in Pittsburgh Steelers history.
Boswell had already hit a 59-yarder against the Jets at MetLife Stadium in 2022. He now owns the two longest field goals in the history of this rivalry. Mike Tomlin called him a “serial killer” postgame — one of the more memorable coaching quotes of the NFL year.
Will McDonald IV Dominates the Pass Rush
New York’s pass rushers were sensational despite the loss. Will McDonald IV led all pass rushers in the game with 3 sacks of Rodgers in a single afternoon — a dominant performance from a player many expected to be one of the breakout pass-rush stars of 2025.
Quinnen Williams added one sack on Rodgers’ very first snap of his Steelers career, and Quincy Williams picked up a sack of his own. New York sacked Rodgers four times total — yet still lost.
TJ Watt’s Ongoing Brilliance
TJ Watt did not register a sack in this game, but his pressure work was relentless. He dropped Breece Hall for a loss of 3 yards on a critical third-down run in the fourth quarter, and his presence forced multiple quick Fields throws throughout the second half.
Watt led the NFL with 6 forced fumbles in 2024 and entered 2025 averaging 0.89 sacks per game over his career — the best mark in NFL history among players with 50 or more games played. His 2025 season was off and running.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets Match Player Stats — Defense
Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Stats
| Player | Stat Line |
|---|---|
| TJ Watt | 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble |
| Alex Highsmith | 4 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hits |
| Jalen Ramsey | 5 tackles, 1 PBU, 1 game-sealing tackle-for-loss |
| Patrick Queen | 7 tackles, 1 TFL |
| Payton Wilson | 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 stop on option run |
| Darius Slay | 4 tackles, beaten on Wilson TD |
Jalen Ramsey’s game-sealing tackle on Garrett Wilson on fourth down with 56 seconds left was the defining defensive play of the game. He did not intercept — he delivered a hit so clean and forceful that Wilson, one of the best receivers in the AFC, could not hold on.
Alex Highsmith got to Fields once for a sack and added two quarterback hits. Pittsburgh’s defense was undermanned late — safety DeShon Elliott and linebacker Malik Harrison both left with knee injuries, and corner Joey Porter Jr. was shut down with hamstring tightness — but held just enough.
New York Jets Defensive Stats
| Player | Stat Line |
|---|---|
| Will McDonald IV | 3 sacks, 2 QB hurries, 5 pressures |
| Quinnen Williams | 1 sack, 2 QB hits, 5 tackles |
| Quincy Williams | 1 sack, 1 TFL, 6 tackles |
| Sauce Gardner | 5 tackles, 1 tipped pass, 1 PBU |
| Jamien Sherwood | 9 tackles |
Will McDonald IV was simply exceptional. Three sacks of a future Hall of Fame quarterback in a single game was a statement performance. He announced himself as one of the premier young pass rushers in the AFC.
Sauce Gardner battled DK Metcalf on every snap — a matchup between arguably the two most physically gifted players on their respective sides. Metcalf got his yards (83) but Gardner made his presence felt all day, including tipping the pinball ball on the final drive.
Head-to-Head All-Time Series: Steelers vs Jets
This rivalry stretches back over 50 years and has been dominated historically by Pittsburgh in emphatic fashion.
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| All-Time Regular Season Meetings | 27 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers Wins | 20 |
| New York Jets Wins | 7 |
| Playoff Meetings | 2 |
| Playoff Record | Steelers 2-0 |
| Overall Series (incl. playoffs) | Steelers 22-7 |
| Most Recent Meeting (before 2025) | PIT 37, NYJ 15 (2024) |
| Week 1 2025 Result | PIT 34, NYJ 32 |
Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 22-7 including playoffs — one of the most lopsided head-to-head records in the modern AFC. Their last meeting before Week 1 2025 was a blowout 37-15 Steelers win in 2024.
The 2025 opener was far closer — the Jets’ first sub-five-point margin in the series in three years.
2025 Season Context After Week 1
The Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets match set the tone for what both franchises aimed to achieve in 2025.
Pittsburgh finished the regular season 10-7, winning the AFC North and earning a playoff berth. Aaron Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions across the full year. He missed one game due to a small wrist fracture in Week 11.
New York finished 3-14 — a difficult inaugural year for head coach Aaron Glenn. Justin Fields played well at times but the team’s injuries, penalties, and turnover issues mounted through the year. Their 7 penalties in this Week 1 game were a warning sign for things to come.
| Team | Final 2025 Record | Points Per Game | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 10-7 | 26.3 | Yes — AFC North champions |
| New York Jets | 3-14 | 18.1 | No |
Player Grade Summary — Steelers vs Jets Week 1
| Player | Team | Position | PFF Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | PIT | QB | 91.7 |
| Will McDonald IV | NYJ | EDGE | 90.2 |
| Breece Hall | NYJ | RB | 88.5 |
| DK Metcalf | PIT | WR | 85.3 |
| Garrett Wilson | NYJ | WR | 84.9 |
| Justin Fields | NYJ | QB | 84.1 |
| Jalen Ramsey | PIT | CB | 83.7 |
| Calvin Austin III | PIT | WR | 82.4 |
| TJ Watt | PIT | EDGE | 81.8 |
| Sauce Gardner | NYJ | CB | 80.6 |
The most interesting grading note was Will McDonald IV earning the second-highest individual grade in the game despite being on the losing side. His pass rush dominated the stat sheet and signalled what was to come from a player destined for a breakout season.
Coaching Decisions: Tomlin vs Glenn
Mike Tomlin made the call to go for a 60-yard field goal on fourth-and-11 in the final two minutes instead of punting or going for it. It was bold, it was correct, and it delivered.
His decision-making in the fourth quarter — trusting Rodgers to operate a two-minute drill down one score, choosing the right spots for Boswell — was elite. Tomlin’s record of 11-6-1 in season openers under his tenure remained intact.
Aaron Glenn, in his first head coaching game, showed fire and ambition. His team outgained Pittsburgh by over 120 yards. His two-point conversion calls were aggressive — both backfired. He addressed both afterwards without excuses: “We can’t have turnovers. We have to be a more disciplined team.”
Both coaches acknowledged the quality of the opponent and the entertainment value of the contest. Neither was truly satisfied.
Statistical Oddities and Records Set
This game produced a remarkable cluster of NFL firsts and historical moments packed into a single afternoon.
| Record / Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| NFL First — QB Swap Week 1 | First time in NFL history both Week 1 QBs faced their previous season’s team |
| Rodgers All-Time Record | First player ever with four TD passes against two different former teams in consecutive games |
| Rodgers Career Milestone | 507 career regular-season TDs — one behind Favre for 4th all-time at the time |
| Rodgers 28 Games — 4 TDs, 0 INTs | Tied Tom Brady for most such games in NFL history |
| Boswell Game-Winner | Career-long 60-yard FG — longest game-winning kick in Steelers history |
| Fields No-Punt First Half | First Jets team since unknown to have zero first-half punts |
| McDonald IV | 3 sacks in one game, 5th most in Jets history in a single game |
The density of historical moments in a single regular-season Week 1 game made this one of the most discussed individual matches of the entire 2025 NFL calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the final score of Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets in Week 1 2025?
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New York Jets 34-32 on September 7, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
What were Aaron Rodgers’ stats in the Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets game?
Rodgers completed 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards, threw 4 touchdown passes, zero interceptions, and posted a 128.5 passer rating in his Steelers debut against his former team.
What were Justin Fields’ stats in the Steelers vs Jets match?
Fields went 16-of-22 for 218 yards and 1 touchdown pass, added 12 carries for 48 yards, and scored 2 rushing touchdowns — a strong Jets debut despite the loss.
Who scored touchdowns for the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Rodgers threw TD passes to Ben Skowronek (22 yds), Jonnu Smith (3 yds), Jaylen Warren (5 yds), and Calvin Austin III (18 yds) — all four in different quarters and four different receivers.
How did Chris Boswell win the game for the Steelers?
Boswell nailed a career-long 60-yard field goal with 1:03 remaining to give Pittsburgh a 34-32 lead — the longest game-winning kick in Steelers franchise history.
What NFL record did Aaron Rodgers set in the Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets match?
Rodgers became the first player in NFL history to throw four touchdown passes against two different former teams in consecutive games — having done it for the Jets vs. Miami, then for the Steelers vs. the Jets.
What was the turning point in the Steelers vs Jets game?
Xavier Gipson’s fumble on the kickoff — forced by Kenneth Gainwell and recovered by Ben Skowronek — gave Pittsburgh the ball at New York’s 22, leading to Rodgers’ go-ahead fourth touchdown in a 50-second span.
How did Will McDonald IV perform for the Jets in this game?
McDonald IV recorded 3 sacks of Rodgers, leading all pass rushers in the game with 5 total pressures and earning a 90.2 PFF grade — one of the best individual defensive performances of Week 1.
What is the all-time record between the Steelers and Jets heading into 2026?
Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 22-7 including two playoff meetings — both won by the Steelers — making it one of the most one-sided rivalries in the modern AFC.
Why did the Jets lose despite outgaining the Steelers by over 120 total yards?
New York committed one turnover (Xavier Gipson’s fumble) that was converted into a go-ahead Steelers touchdown, failed both two-point conversion attempts, and was penalized 7 times — three costly mistakes that negated their statistical dominance.
Conclusion
The Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets match player stats from Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season delivered everything a football fan could want — two former teammates facing each other on opposite sidelines, a Hall of Famer proving his doubters wrong, a young dual-threat quarterback arriving on a new stage, and a game-winning 60-yard field goal to close it out.
Aaron Rodgers was historic with four touchdown passes and zero turnovers in his debut. Justin Fields was brilliant in defeat. Breece Hall dominated the ground game.
Will McDonald IV announced himself as a new AFC pass-rush force. Yet in the end, Pittsburgh’s zero turnovers against New York’s one fumble, combined with two failed two-point conversions, made all the difference.
Steelers 34, Jets 32 — a season opener that lived up to every single bit of its pre-game hype and then some.
