An inside look at Sunday’s Jets-Steelers NFL Week 1 matchup at MetLife Stadium:
Marquee matchup
Jets QB Justin Fields vs. Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers
No, they won’t actually be facing off with each other on the field, but this game is the first assessment of the Jets’ offseason decision at quarterback.
They decided to move on from the future Hall of Famer in Rodgers and roll the dice with Fields, who they signed to a two-year, $40 million contract after one year in Pittsburgh.
Both quarterbacks downplayed facing their former employer this week.
Rodgers: “I’ll just be excited for Week 1.”
Fields: “Cool, calm and collected. It’s another game, to be honest with you.”
This is the first time in NFL history that quarterbacks in a Week 1 game are both facing the teams for which they started the season opener the year before.
Fields also could become the first quarterback to win a season opener for one team then beat that same team in the opener the next year.
Glenn might have kicked Rodgers to the curb but he knows what the 41-year-old QB is still capable of.
“He challenges in all ways, as far as him as a thrower, getting guys in and out of the huddle, being able to see the defense, being able to put the guys in the right position,” Glenn said. “Listen, he’s a future Hall of Famer. We all know that. So, he’s going to cause problems no matter what.”
Four downs
On the run
The Jets had one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL last season.
They were dead last in rushing attempts, second to last in rushing yards and scored a measly eight rushing touchdowns.
The plan this year is to flip those numbers around.
With Justin Fields, Breece Hall and Braelon Allen leading the way, the Jets have made no secret of the plan to be a run-heavy, run-first team.
They have stressed they want their identity on offense to be centered around the run.
“We want to be a fast, physical, and violent outfit,” offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said.
The offensive line got dealt a blow this week when right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker was lost for the season with a torn triceps.
They are expected to move center Joe Tippmann to guard and start Josh Myers at center.
Jermaine jolt
The Jets are getting back one of their key players on defense in this game with edge rusher Jermaine Johnson returning to action after missing almost all of last season.
Johnson tore the Achilles tendon in his right leg in Week 2 last year against the Titans and missed the rest of the season.
He was coming off a promising 2023 season when he had 7.5 sacks.
He returned to practice at the end of training camp and is ready to sack Aaron Rodgers, who he became close with during his time with the Jets.
“One of the first things I said to Aaron when he got here is: ‘I’m happy you’re here. I’m just mad I’ll never be able to sack you,’ ” Johnson said. “So, yeah, I’m excited.”
For openers
The Jets have been dismal in season openers in recent years.
Over the past nine years, they have won just twice.
One of those was two years ago when they beat the Bills in overtime, but the victory was completely overshadowed by Rodgers tearing his Achilles tendon.
The other win came in 2018 when Sam Darnold made a splash in his debut with a 48-17 victory over the Lions.
No Jets coach has won his debut with the team since Todd Bowles in 2015.
Fields will be the team’s seventh different starting quarterback in a season opener in the past 10 years — joining Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson, Darnold, Josh McCown and Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Taylor made
There has been a lot of attention paid to who the Jets’ No. 2 wide receiver will be, but just as important may be the production they get from their tight ends.
Rookie Mason Taylor will be making his debut and is expected to have a big role in the offense.
Taylor missed some of training camp with a high ankle sprain, but the coaches sound confident in what he can do.
“I feel really good about Mason,” Engstrand said. “Mason is a smart, instinctual football player, and, of course, it’s hard always when you miss a little bit of time, but he’s picked up right where he left off, and we feel like he’s in a really good spot heading into the game.”
Costello’s call
This one could be a slugfest.
Though the headlines will be about Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields, this game could come down to who controls the line of scrimmage.
I think this game will be close, then Fields leads the Jets to a victory, throwing a game-winner to Allen Lazard, who beats his old buddy Rodgers.
Jets 21, Steelers 17
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
