Aaron Rodgers leads Steelers to 34-32 win over Jets, says he's 'happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets'
Rodgers threw four touchdown passes in Week 1 and celebrated a fourth-quarter comeback that included a 60-yard go-ahead field goal by Chris Boswell.
PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers rallied for a 34-32 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday, with the veteran quarterback throwing four touchdown passes and the team scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter to erase a deficit.
Rodgers completed 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns in his first game with the Steelers, and Chris Boswell provided the decisive play with a 60-yard field goal that gave Pittsburgh the lead late in the fourth. The win came against the team Rodgers played for last season.
Asked about the significance of beating his former team, Rodgers referenced comments from Jets coach Aaron Glenn, who had questioned whether Rodgers fit the roster, and said, "I was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets." He added that his primary goal was to enjoy the game and build chemistry with his new teammates.
"No, I just wanted to have fun today," Rodgers said. "I mean I was dreaming about the opportunity to step back on the field in the offseason and wondering how it would feel. Would the juices flow and would it hit my competitive spirit. There were a lot of moments that I was on the sideline just to myself thanking my wife and my friends for encouraging me to take time with my decision and that this would be the right decision. I’m happy to be a Steeler and happy things went the way they did today."
Rodgers matched a four-touchdown performance he posted in Week 18 last season while still with the Jets, when he threw four scores against the Miami Dolphins in what was his final game for New York. The Week 1 outing with Pittsburgh was his first regular-season appearance for the Steelers after joining the team in the offseason.
Pittsburgh mounted its comeback in the fourth quarter, overturning a late deficit as the Jets' offense struggled to sustain drives. Boswell's 60-yard field goal proved to be the biggest play of the closing minutes, giving the Steelers a narrow margin that they held when New York failed to convert in the final possessions.
The victory will serve as an early test of Pittsburgh's hopes for the season and a moment of vindication for Rodgers after his contentious offseason departure from the Jets. While the Steelers' offense found traction late, the team will likely examine its consistency and defensive performance in the days ahead as it prepares for its next matchup.
Rodgers' postgame remarks emphasized gratitude for the support he received during his decision to take time off before signing with Pittsburgh and his desire to enjoy playing with his new teammates. The Jets, meanwhile, will regroup after dropping their Week 1 contest and assess adjustments with a new coaching staff and roster after the offseason changes.
The Steelers head into next week with a 1-0 record, while the Jets will look to rebound and address issues that prevented them from closing out the game. Rodgers' performance provided a headline moment in the season opener and underscored his continued role as a focal point of Pittsburgh's offense.