Things will get personal at MetLife when the Pittsburgh Steelers play the New York Jets. Here are the storylines, picks, and best bets for the NFL Week 1 game between the Steelers and Jets.
Steelers vs. Jets: Game Information
"it's always a good matchup"
Sauce on playing against DK Metcalf pic.twitter.com/RgIF4ZPppu
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 2, 2025
- 🏈 Game: Steelers vs. Jets
- 📅 Date: Sunday – Sept. 7, 2025
- 🕗 Time: 1 p.m. ET
- 🏟 Location: MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford, New Jersey
- 📺 TV Channel: CBS
- 💻 Live Stream: Paramount+
Top Storyline: Aaron Rodgers Returns to MetLife
We're soarin', flyin' ✈️ pic.twitter.com/kSiSxhIeHz
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 2, 2025
The NFL could not have dreamed of a better storyline than Aaron Rodgers returning to MetLife in Week 1 to play his former team.
After two seasons in New York, Rodgers was released by the Jets to start the offseason. The four-time MVP remained unsigned for a few months before inking a one-year deal with the Steelers.
Rodgers’ tenure in New York will go down as a failure. It got off to a disastrous start when Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon four plays into the 2023 season.
Rodgers played much better than his critics will give him credit for in 2024 — 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 games. However, New York could not overcome the turmoil of changes to the head coach and general manager.
The Jets finished 5-12.
Instead of running it back with Rodgers, the Jets’ first-year coach, Aaron Glen, elected to start fresh and release the future Hall of Famer.
Now, Rodgers gets a chance to prove Glenn wrong in Week 1.
Steelers vs. Jets: Picks and Best Bets
Under 38.5 (-110)
Death, taxes, and Mike Tomlin finishing .500 or better. The Steelers have finished at least .500 in all of Tomlin’s 18 seasons.
While Tomlin is the coach you want to back as an underdog (62.5% rate), he covers less than 50% of the time as a favorite (48.0%).
The Steelers’ offense fizzled out in 2024 under Russell Wilson. Rodgers will try to resurrect Arthur Smith’s offense that had the fifth-highest percentage of runs in 2024 (48.31%).
Speaking of running the ball, Glenn has made it clear the Jets are going to pound the rock with a three-headed approach of Justin Fields, Breece Hall, and Braelon Allen.
Both teams have cornerbacks to neutralize their opponent’s top receivers: Sauce Gardner on DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey on Garrett Wilson.
This game could get ugly, with both teams fighting to establish the run and play elite defense.
Expect to see a lot of field goal attempts from Chris Boswell and Nick Folk. For that reason, I lean towards playing the under despite being at 38.5.
Breece Hall Over 12.5 Rushing Attempts (-114)
If you believe in Glenn’s desire to run the ball, then Hall should be busy in Week 1.
Even though the Steelers will sell out to stop the run and make Fields — one of Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks in 2024 — beat them, Hall should still exceed double-digit carries as the lead back.
Hall received at least 12 carries in 11 of 16 games last year. Hopefully, Glenn stays true to his words and hands the ball off to Hall frequently.
