Steelers defeat Jets 37-15 in Russell Wilson's Pittsburgh debut

Steelers QB Russell Wilson talks return to action

Pittsburgh’s unexpectedly strong start continues to 5-2. For a team that started the season with two quarterbacks who weren’t wanted elsewhere — Justin Fields, in Chicago, and Russell Wilson, in Denver — the Steelers currently sit in first place in the AFC North, though Baltimore (4-2) can match them Monday night.

For the Jets, the issues go deeper than production at receiver. Injuries have decimated the secondary and Rodgers hasn’t been sharp.

Pittsburgh’s defensive line has been so adept tonight at jumping when Aaron Rodgers releases the ball and getting their arms into passing lanes. It led to another consequential stop with 7:53 to play in this fourth quarter when Steelers interior lineman Keeanu Benton swatted down a pass on 4th-and-5 and the Jets only 25 yards from the end zone. That's a call interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich will want back.

The Steelers’ lead grows, 30-15, after Russell Wilson finds Van Jefferson on an out-route for a four-yard touchdown catch. Wilson is now 15-for-28 passing with two touchdowns and 228 yards.

With 12:09 left in the fourth quarter, the Jets are facing a difficult comeback; little has gone right since last scoring in the second quarter.

Here are the Jets’ last four drives:

• Interception
• Punt
• Interception
• Missed field goal

New York’s Greg Zuerlein has his 35-yard field goal blocked to maintain Pittsburgh’s 23-15 lead. The Steelers had four players with a hand in the air right in position to block the kick in a remarkable play. Per the ‘Sunday Night Football’ broadcast, the Steelers lead the NFL since 2022 with nine blocks on punts, field goals and point-after attempts.

A close-up shot showed blood covering the top of the Jets quarterback’s left hand. In many sports, the presence of blood will lead to an immediate pause in play to put a stop to bleeding, but that hasn’t happened in Pittsburgh. Rodgers throws with his right hand.

Offensive lineman Xavier Newman went down awkwardly after being blocked during Pittsburgh’s interception return and players and coaches have surrounding him in a scary scene. Previously tonight, safety Tony Adams (hamstring) and offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) were both downgraded as doubtful to return.

Bishop has now intercepted Aaron Rodgers twice tonight, and returned the latest all the way to the 1-yard line of New York. The pass appeared as though it bounced off of receiver Garrett Wilson’s chest plate before Bishop caught it.

Chris Boswell is now 3-for-3 on field goals tonight with his latest a 21-yarder to put the Steelers ahead with 7:49 to play in the third quarter.

Pittsburgh’s George Pickens somehow was able to keep his focus and catch a juggling ball from Russell Wilson. Only seconds later, Pat Freiermuth caught a pass one-handed on yet another high-arching touch pass thrown by Wilson.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner, an all-pro each of his first two seasons, has returned to the game as the second half gets under way.

Aaron Rodgers is 13-of-19 passing for 158 yards with one touchdown and one interception. It’s been a shaky game for both Rodgers and his counterpart, Russell Wilson, who is 8-for-17 passing for 145 yards and a touchdown.

Neither have helped consistently move the ball, with the Steelers gaining 182 yards on 31 plays, and the Jets 173 yards on 29 plays.

All of the attention on how Davante Adams would play in his Jets debut (three catches, for 30 yards, on six targets) has opened up room for teammate Breece Hall. Hall is up to 93 receiving yards and 21 on the ground.

With only 27 seconds before halftime, the Steelers close their 54-yard drive — one made possible by the interception of New York — with a touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to George Pickens for 11 yards.

Top Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner wasn’t in the game after coming up limp two plays earlier.

It’s New York 15, Pittsburgh 13.

With a remarkable interception, Steelers defensive back Beanie Bishop Jr. gives the Steelers one final chance to score with the benefit of a short field before halftime. Bishop had dropped into coverage and spun around to pick off Aaron Rodgers before the ball could reach Garrett Wilson.

Jeff Ulbrich, New York’s interim head coach following the firing of Robert Saleh earlier in the week, tried to challenge a play late in the Jets’ drive, tossing his red flag to initiate such a challenge. It came too late and that worked in his team’s favor when Aaron Rodgers found Tyler Conklin for a wide-open short touchdown.

The Jets converted the two-point opportunity and lead 15-6, with 5:29 to play. The chance to score was set up by Breece Hall’s 57-yard reception that turned a short catch into a momentum-shifting gain.

Chris Boswell makes his second field goal of the night, this time from 29 yards, to draw Pittsburgh within 7-6, here in the second quarter, with 8:20 to play before halftime. To put it bluntly, Russell Wilson needed that drive, because while it ended without a touchdown, it included a 44-yard connection with receiver George Pickens that revives a bit of confidence in Wilson’s passing.

Pinned in their own territory, the Jets could not earn a first down on their latest drive. Davante Adams did show the crafty route-running the Jets were looking for — he’s up to two catches for 19 yards — but it can’t move the chains. There is no doubt Aaron Rodgers is looking for Adams, who has five targets.

A third consecutive three-and-out drive has drawn boos from Steelers fans directed toward Russell Wilson, who misfired badly on two attempts on the drive.

He is 2 for 8 for 19 total yards so far.

Russell Wilson completed two of his six passes in the opening quarter for 19 yards; he also rushed one time for one yard. This is the Steelers’ test to know whether Wilson better fits the roster or Justin Fields, the backup who took over as starter for the first six games due to Wilson’s calf injury.

Russell Wilson and the Steelers offense have struggled since their first-drive field goal. Their last two drives have both been three-and-outs that gained a combined seven yards. After the Jets punt, the Steelers take over with 37 seconds left in the first quarter.

New York earns its first points on its second drive, after nine plays and 82 yards. Breece Hall scored his third rushing touchdown this season, going 13 yards for a 7-3 Jets lead with 2:27 left in the first quarter.

Playing together for the first time since 2022 in Green Bay, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Davante Adams couldn’t connect on their first drive together as Jets. Rodgers threw too far outside on a misfire attempt on New York’s first play from scrimmage. A quick punt followed.

Pittsburgh takes a 3-0 lead after an opening-drive field goal by Chris Boswell, from 46 yards. Russell Wilson did not look hampered by the calf injury that had sidelined him since late in the preseason. What will differentiate Wilson from Justin Fields will be whether he can pass more effectively. It’s too small of a sample size to know how he will fare so far.

The 2-4 Jets kick off to the 4-2 Steelers. First start of the season for Russell Wilson at quarterback. Can he play better than Justin Fields?

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers spoke with NBC about rejoining former wide receiver Devonte Adams.

With the Jets trading for Davontae Adams this week, Wilson -- the previous No. 1 wideout for New York -- is going to bump down to No. 2. According to ESPN this decision could have even bigger implications.

The Jets have heard from teams, the report said, about the former first-round pick. They are opening to listening but are not expected to trade him. He has 399 yards receiving and three scores this season.

Despite starting the season 4-2 — and coming off their best win of the season — the Steelers will make a change at QB and Russell Wilson will start over Justin Fields.

Wilson has not played this season while dealing with a calf injury. He is a 9-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.

The Jets acquired star WR Davante Adams for a conditional third-round pick this week, adding more talent to an offense that already had Garrett Wilson (second in NFL with 41 receptions), Allen Lazard (tied for the NFL lead with five receiving TDs), Mike Williams and RB Breece Hall.

Rodgers, who is off to his worst-ever start through six games at 2-4 said "it’s on us now, because we’re going all-in. It’s our time to go out there, win games and get on a run, which we all feel deep down is going to happen.”

The Steelers have allowed seven touchdown passes but intercepted opponents seven times. They are one of eight teams who have as many, or more, interceptions than touchdown passes allowed. Does that make their passing defense a fluke or legitimate? Consider that seven of those eight teams also rank among the 10 best defenses at limiting opponents’ passer rating.

Pittsburgh is in that group, too. It would seem, then, the Steelers have a strong foundation to face a revamped Jets passing attack, but watch whether Adams’s arrival opens opportunities for other Jets wideouts such as Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard. 

After being traded from Las Vegas to the Jets on Tuesday, receiver Davante Adams has been reunited with Aaron Rodgers, his former quarterback in Green Bay. Though their all-pro connection with the Packers was undeniable -- Adams caught 73 touchdown passes in eight seasons -- will their encore in New York be enough to lift an offense with just a single pass play of 40-plus yards, and has averaged 18.8 points per game, which ranks in the league’s bottom third?

Pittsburgh has its own offensive questions. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he is considering playing quarterback Russell Wilson, either in place of or as part of a rotation with Justin Fields. Wilson hasn’t played since injuring a calf in preseason.

The Jets have lost three straight games since beating the Patriots in Week 3 on Thursday Night Football… and all three losses have been by one score (10 combined points) and in each game New York had the ball with a chance to win but fell short.

• Week 4 vs DEN: Missed 50-yd FG in final minute of regulation (lost 10-9)

• Week 5 vs MIN: Aaron Rodgers threw INT on final drive down by 6 (lost 23-17)

• Week 6 vs BUF: Rodgers threw INT on final drive down by 3 (lost 23-20)