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Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock with a vintage performance in his Steelers debut that featured big throws, no turnovers and a late victory over his former team.
Rodgers threw four touchdown passes — two in a 50-second span in the second half — and Chris Boswell kicked a go-ahead, career-long 60-yard field goal with 1:03 remaining to lead Pittsburgh to a 34-32 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.
“I love beating everybody,” Rodgers said. “It doesn’t matter who it is.”
But this one had to be a little more satisfying, especially after he was released by the Jets and new coach Aaron Glenn in the offseason.
“I was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets,” Rodgers said when asked if he was pleased to beat Glenn. "I gave as much as I could to the team. I didn’t have any hard feelings about it not working out. I didn’t maybe appreciate the way it went down in the end, but that’s in the past.
“And we're 1-and-0.”
With the Steelers trailing 32-31, Rodgers got the ball with just over three minutes left and led the offense into Jets territory — helped by an 11-yard pinball catch by DK Metcalf on a ball that hit off his hands, was tipped by the Jets' Sauce Gardner and Andre Cisco and then Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith before ricocheting back into Metcalf's hands.
On fourth-and-11 from the 42, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin opted for a field goal try and Boswell easily made the kick.
“I can’t say enough about Boz,” Tomlin said. “Our kicker is a serial killer. He’s got a low pulse rate. He can’t wait to deliver.”
Boswell's previous longest field goal was 59 yards, also against the Jets, in 2022.
The Jets had a chance to drive for a potential winning field goal when they got the ball back with 56 seconds remaining. On fourth-and-3, Justin Fields connected with Garrett Wilson for what could've been a first down — but Jalen Ramsey slammed hard into the Jets receiver, who couldn't hold onto the ball.
The 41-year-old Rodgers then just needed to take a knee to cap a successful return to the stadium he called home the past two seasons. He was 22 of 30 for 244 yards with TD passes to Smith, Calvin Austin III, Jaylen Warren and Ben Skowronek. Rodgers also joined Tom Brady for the most games in NFL history with at least four touchdown passes and no interceptions with 28.
