It had been a very active offseason, arguably the most unusually active offseason for this franchise in quite some time, both in terms of sheer volume and also the pedigree of the additions. But two of them — one on offense and one on defense — had the most potential to be difference-makers.
And so it was that when the Steelers opened their 2025 regular season on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, they defeated the New York Jets, 34-32, because of contributions from the new difference-maker on offense plus the new difference-maker on defense to go along with the franchise's all-time difference-maker on special teams.
Leave it to the sage quarterback, a.k.a., that new difference-maker on offense, to put the afternoon in perspective.
"A lot of teachable tape out there (to study)," Aaron Rodgers told CBS' Evan Washburn in a postgame on-field interview, "but when we needed a drive (at the end), we got the job done."
That "teachable tape" undoubtedly will include various snippets featuring lapses in run defense, offensive line technique, kickoff coverage, etc. But the Steelers deserve to feel good about being 1-0, and about being 1-0 because Aaron Rodgers conducted the offense like a maestro; because Jalen Ramsey was a nuisance by adding attitude and demeanor to the defense, and because Chris Boswell remains the best in the world at his job.
"Man, that was fun and challenging at the same time," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "I tip my cap to the New York Jets. They were a worthy opponent, they fought. Challenged us in a lot of ways … We made about one or two more plays than they did, and sometimes these games are decided by that."
Yes, the favorable outcome of this game for the Steelers can be credited to a razor-thin edge in the playmaking department, but what could bode well as this season grinds on is who made those plays for them.
The starting quarterback. The emotional sparkplug on defense. And the best and most reliable placekicker on earth.
Let's begin with Aaron Rodgers.
If you prefer an argument based on statistics, there are plenty of those. A 73.3 completion percentage, 4 touchdown passes, a 136.7 passer rating, 0 turnovers. But within those statistics are some big-time NFL quarterback things Rodgers did, and when he did them was what the Steelers had been lacking.
Starting with Ben Roethlisberger retiring after the 2021 season until Sunday's game vs. the Jets , the Steelers were involved in 51 regular season games. Only 5 times in those 51 games were the Steelers able to score a touchdown on their opening possession, and Rodgers did it the first time out by moving the offense 71 yards in 10 plays to answer a Jets field goal with a touchdown pass.
Also in those previous 51 games, the Steelers scored 30 or more points 5 times (Rodgers is 1-for-1); and their 8 quarterbacks who saw regular season playing time in those 51 games combined for 45 touchdown passes (Rodgers had 4 in his first game). The Steelers had no turnovers and were a perfect 3-for-3 in the red zone, meaning they never had to settle for a field goal once they got close to the opponent's goal line. Clearly, the Steelers had not been getting all-around quality play from the most important position on the team, but they got it from Rodgers on Sunday.
"I just thought he was game all day," said Tomlin about Rodgers. "You guys asked me last week why was I confident. That's why I was confident. That's what I've been looking at in preparation. And I'm appreciative of it, not only his efforts but the efforts of the collective."
The thing about a defensive playmaker is he can maximize his effectiveness through timing, because breaking up a pass on fourth-and-3 with 18 seconds remaining in a 2-point game can ice the outcome, which is exactly what happened when Jalen Ramsey knocked the ball from the grasp of Garrett Wilson with a hit that could be put on video and used as a teaching tool.
Justin Fields' throw to Wilson was on time and on target, and if not for Ramsey closing aggressively dislodging the ball with a shoulder perfectly timed and precisely aimed at the receiver's midsection, the Jets would've had an opportunity at a game-winning 49-yard field goal for a kicker who already had been successful from 51 yards. Maybe you're not comfortable with the opinion that single snap was the difference in a game that contained 115 other offensive plays, but it's factually accurate to say Ramsey's pass defensed prevented the Jets from having the chance to make the play that ultimately could've been the difference in the game.
The Steelers defense allowed 182 rushing yards on 39 attempts (4.7 average), which in turn allowed the Jets to enjoy a 9-minute, 26-second edge in time of possession. That was a rather disappointing performance in a phase of the game the Steelers had spent months trying to fortify after their 2024 defense ended its season by allowing 131 rushing yards to Philadelphia on Dec. 15, 220 rushing yards to Baltimore on Dec. 21, and then 299 rushing yards to the Ravens in the Wild Card Round.
"I'm excited about the next week's process, because we've got an opportunity to get a lot better between Week 1 and Week 2," said Tomlin, "and we're going to need to (get better) obviously. Our slip was showing a little bit today in some areas. Weren't good enough vs. the running game, particularly their RPO running game. We didn't put enough pressure on Justin (Fields). On the offensive side of the ball, I thought some negative plays killed drives, and we didn't protect our quarterback well enough on play-action passes. They sacked us a couple of times, and in those instances that put us behind the chains. You can't be behind the chains in a hostile environment in a close football game."
Any or all of those issues could've been what soured opening weekend for the 2025 Steelers, but they got those clutch performances from their quarterback and their new defensive playmaker – and a 60-yard field goal with 63 seconds left from a placekicker with ice water in his veins.
"NFL football is tough," said Tomlin. "You're going to be tested individually and collectively, and how you respond to that oftentimes defines you. I can't say enough about Boz. Our kicker is a serial killer, he's got a low pulse rate, he can't wait to deliver. But that's the type of guy you want under those circumstances.
Actually, Boswell – along with Rodgers and Ramsey – are exactly the type of guys you NEED in those circumstances.
