The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the 2025 NFL season with a dramatic 34-32 comeback victory over the New York Jets on September 7, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in a Week 1 AFC thriller that saw the Steelers erase a 26-17 fourth-quarter deficit with 17 unanswered points, capped by Chris Boswell’s career-long 60-yard field goal with 1:03 remaining. This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of the contest, focusing on player stats, game summary, and head-to-head analysis, sourced from verified platforms including ESPN, NFL.com, CBS Sports, FOX Sports, Pro-Football-Reference.com. With an attendance of 82,500 and a game duration of 3 hours and 15 minutes, the win improved Pittsburgh’s record to 1-0 (1-0 away) and dropped the Jets to 0-1 (0-1 home), highlighting Aaron Rodgers’ four-touchdown performance and the Steelers’ opportunistic special teams. Below, we dive into the game, including individual performances, critical moments, and team context.

Game Highlights

Sport: Football
League: NFL (National Football League)
Matchup: New York Jets vs Steelers Match Player Stats
Game Covered:
- Game 1: September 7, 2025
Series Result: Steelers won the matchup 1–0

Series Overview: Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Jets, 2025 NFL Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0, 1-0 away) defeated the New York Jets (0-1, 0-1 home) 34-32 on September 7, 2025. Pittsburgh trailed 19-17 at halftime and 26-17 entering the fourth quarter but erupted for 17 unanswered points, fueled by Aaron Rodgers’ 22/30, 244 yards, and 4 TDs. A forced fumble on a kickoff return by Xavier Gipson set up a short-field touchdown, and Chris Boswell’s 60-yard FG sealed the win. The Jets outgained Pittsburgh 394-271 total yards (212 passing, 182 rushing vs. 218 passing, 53 rushing), converting 7-of-14 third downs (50.0%), but 7 penalties for 74 yards and 1 turnover (fumble lost) proved costly. Pittsburgh converted 4-of-10 third downs (40.0%) and scored 7 points off the Jets’ turnover.

Game 1: Pittsburgh Steelers 34, New York Jets 32 (September 7, 2025)

Game Summary

The Pittsburgh Steelers staged a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the New York Jets 34-32 on September 7, 2025, at MetLife Stadium. The Jets opened with a 10-play, 48-yard drive ending in a field goal (0-3). Pittsburgh responded with a 10-play, 71-yard drive capped by a touchdown (7-3). The Jets answered with a 6-play, 55-yard TD drive (7-9). In the second quarter, Pittsburgh kicked a field goal on a 5-play, 35-yard drive (10-9), but the Jets scored a TD on a 7-play, 68-yard drive (10-16). After a Pittsburgh punt, the Jets added a field goal on an 8-play, 41-yard drive (10-19), and Pittsburgh closed the half with a 9-play, 65-yard TD drive (17-19). The third quarter saw punts until the Jets scored on an 8-play, 68-yard TD drive (17-26). In the fourth, Pittsburgh tied it with a 9-play, 68-yard TD drive (24-26). A Jets fumble on the ensuing kickoff (0 plays, 0 yards) led to a 2-play, 22-yard Pittsburgh TD (31-26). The Jets retook the lead with a 12-play, 67-yard TD drive (31-32). Pittsburgh punted after a 3-play, -14-yard drive, the Jets punted after 3 plays, 5 yards, and Pittsburgh kicked the game-winning 60-yard FG on a 6-play, 39-yard drive (34-32). The Jets’ final drive ended in downs on 4 plays, 7 yards. Pittsburgh’s 3-of-3 red-zone efficiency and the forced fumble were decisive.

Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring

First Quarter: PIT 7, NYJ 9
Second Quarter: PIT 10, NYJ 10 (Halftime: PIT 17, NYJ 19)
Third Quarter: PIT 0, NYJ 7 (PIT 17, NYJ 26)
Fourth Quarter: PIT 17, NYJ 6 (Final: PIT 34, NYJ 32)

Key Player Stats: Pittsburgh Steelers

Passing:

Aaron Rodgers (QB #8): 22/30, 244 YDS, 8.1 AVG, 4 TD, 0 INT, 4-26 SACKS, 58.8 QBR, 136.7 RTG. Rodgers’ four TDs included a 30-yarder to Calvin Austin III.
Team: 22/30, 218 YDS, 8.1 AVG, 4 TD, 0 INT, 4-26 SACKS, 136.7 RTG.

Rushing:

Jaylen Warren (RB #30): 11 CAR, 37 YDS, 3.4 AVG, 0 TD, 9 LONG.
Kenneth Gainwell (RB #14): 7 CAR, 19 YDS, 2.7 AVG, 0 TD, 6 LONG.
Aaron Rodgers (QB #8): 1 CAR, -1 YDS, -1.0 AVG, 0 TD, -1 LONG.
Kaleb Johnson (RB #20): 1 CAR, -2 YDS, -2.0 AVG, 0 TD, -2 LONG.
Team: 20 CAR, 53 YDS, 2.7 AVG, 0 TD, 9 LONG.

Receiving:

DK Metcalf (WR #4): 4 REC, 83 YDS, 20.8 AVG, 0 TD, 31 LONG, 7 TGTS.
Calvin Austin III (WR #19): 4 REC, 70 YDS, 17.5 AVG, 1 TD, 30 LONG, 6 TGTS.
Pat Freiermuth (TE #88): 3 REC, 28 YDS, 9.3 AVG, 0 TD, 11 LONG, 3 TGTS.
Ben Skowronek (WR #15): 1 REC, 22 YDS, 22.0 AVG, 1 TD, 22 LONG, 1 TGT.
Jaylen Warren (RB #30): 2 REC, 22 YDS, 11.0 AVG, 1 TD, 17 LONG, 2 TGTS.
Jonnu Smith (TE #81): 5 REC, 15 YDS, 3.0 AVG, 1 TD, 6 LONG, 6 TGTS.
Kenneth Gainwell (RB #14): 3 REC, 4 YDS, 1.3 AVG, 0 TD, 5 LONG, 4 TGTS.
Team: 22 REC, 244 YDS, 11.1 AVG, 4 TD, 31 LONG, 29 TGTS.

Fumbles:

Kenneth Gainwell (RB #14): 1 FUM, 0 LOST, 1 REC.
Kaleb Johnson (RB #20): 1 FUM, 0 LOST, 0 REC.
Ben Skowronek (WR #15): 0 FUM, 0 LOST, 1 REC.
Juan Thornhill (S #22): 0 FUM, 0 LOST, 1 REC.
Team: 2 FUM, 0 LOST, 3 REC.

Defense:

Juan Thornhill (S #22): 9 TOT, 4 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 0 PD, 0 QB HTS. Thornhill led tackles.
Chuck Clark (S #21): 8 TOT, 6 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 1 TFL, 0 PD.
Alex Highsmith (LB #56): 8 TOT, 5 SOLO, 1 SACK, 1 TFL, 0 PD, 3 QB HTS.
Patrick Queen (LB #6): 8 TOT, 5 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 0 PD, 1 QB HT.
DeShon Elliott (S #25): 6 TOT, 5 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 0 PD.
Team: 75 TOT, 50 SOLO, 1 SACK, 6 TFL, 4 PD, 6 QB HTS, 0 TD.

Interceptions:

No Interceptions: Pittsburgh’s defense forced no picks.

Kick Returns:

Kaleb Johnson (RB #20): 5 NO, 132 YDS, 26.4 AVG, 29 LONG, 0 TD.
Kenneth Gainwell (RB #14): 1 NO, 33 YDS, 33.0 AVG, 33 LONG, 0 TD.
Team: 6 NO, 165 YDS, 27.5 AVG, 33 LONG, 0 TD.

Punt Returns:

No Returns: Pittsburgh had no punt returns.
Team: 0 NO, 0 YDS, 0.0 AVG.

Kicking:

Chris Boswell (#9): 2/2 FG, 100.0%, 60 LONG, 4/4 XP, 10 PTS. Boswell’s 60-yarder won the game.
Team: 2/2 FG, 100.0%, 60 LONG, 4/4 XP, 10 PTS.

Punting:

Corliss Waitman (#3): 4 NO, 190 YDS, 47.5 AVG, 0 TB, 1 In 20, 50 LONG.
Team: 4 NO, 190 YDS, 47.5 AVG, 0 TB, 1 In 20, 50 LONG.

Inactives: No major inactives reported; full lineup active.

Team Stats: 19 1st Downs (14 passing, 2 rushing, 3 penalty), 4-10 3rd Down (40.0%), 0-0 4th Down, 271 Total Yards, 218 Passing, 22/30 Comp/Att, 6.4 Yards per pass, 0 INT, 53 Rushing, 20 Att, 2.7 Yards per rush, 4-26 Penalties, 0 Turnovers, 25:17 Possession. Pittsburgh averaged 5.0 yards per play, 3-3 Red Zone.

Key Player Stats: New York Jets

Passing:

Justin Fields (QB #7): 16/22, 218 YDS, 9.9 AVG, 1 TD, 0 INT, 1-6 SACKS, 73.0 QBR, 119.1 RTG. Fields’ 33-yard TD to Garrett Wilson was key.
Team: 16/22, 212 YDS, 9.9 AVG, 1 TD, 0 INT, 1-6 SACKS, 119.1 RTG.

Rushing:

Breece Hall (RB #20): 19 CAR, 107 YDS, 5.6 AVG, 0 TD, 18 LONG. Hall led the ground game.
Justin Fields (QB #7): 12 CAR, 48 YDS, 4.0 AVG, 2 TD, 15 LONG. Fields’ two rushing TDs included an 8-yarder, per FOX Sports.
Isaiah Davis (RB #32): 2 CAR, 18 YDS, 9.0 AVG, 0 TD, 15 LONG.
Braelon Allen (RB #0): 6 CAR, 9 YDS, 1.5 AVG, 1 TD, 8 LONG.
Team: 39 CAR, 182 YDS, 4.7 AVG, 3 TD, 18 LONG.

Receiving:

Garrett Wilson (WR #5): 7 REC, 95 YDS, 13.6 AVG, 1 TD, 33 LONG, 9 TGTS. Wilson’s 33-yard TD came in the second.
Breece Hall (RB #20): 2 REC, 38 YDS, 19.0 AVG, 0 TD, 33 LONG, 4 TGTS.
Tyler Johnson (WR #16): 2 REC, 31 YDS, 15.5 AVG, 0 TD, 24 LONG, 2 TGTS.
Mason Taylor (TE #85): 1 REC, 20 YDS, 20.0 AVG, 0 TD, 20 LONG, 1 TGT.
Josh Reynolds (WR #83): 2 REC, 18 YDS, 9.0 AVG, 0 TD, 13 LONG, 3 TGTS.
Jeremy Ruckert (TE #89): 2 REC, 16 YDS, 8.0 AVG, 0 TD, 12 LONG, 2 TGTS.
Team: 16 REC, 218 YDS, 13.6 AVG, 1 TD, 33 LONG, 21 TGTS.

Fumbles:

Xavier Gipson (WR #3): 1 FUM, 1 LOST, 0 REC. Gipson’s kickoff fumble led to a Pittsburgh TD.
Team: 1 FUM, 1 LOST, 0 REC.

Defense:

Quincy Williams (LB #56): 6 TOT, 4 SOLO, 1 SACK, 1 TFL, 0 PD, 1 QB HT.
Tony Adams (S #22): 6 TOT, 3 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 0 PD.
Jamien Sherwood (LB #44): 6 TOT, 3 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 1 TFL, 0 PD.
Quinnen Williams (DT #95): 5 TOT, 4 SOLO, 1 SACK, 2 TFL, 0 PD, 3 QB HTS.
Marcelino McCrary-Ball (LB #41): 5 TOT, 4 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 0 PD.
Team: 63 TOT, 33 SOLO, 4 SACKS, 7 TFL, 4 PD, 7 QB HTS, 0 TD.

Interceptions:

No Interceptions: Jets’ defense forced no picks.

Kick Returns:

Xavier Gipson (WR #3): 5 NO, 142 YDS, 28.4 AVG, 40 LONG, 0 TD.
Kene Nwangwu (RB #34): 1 NO, 33 YDS, 33.0 AVG, 33 LONG, 0 TD.
Arian Smith (WR #82): 1 NO, 31 YDS, 31.0 AVG, 31 LONG, 0 TD.
Team: 7 NO, 206 YDS, 29.4 AVG, 40 LONG, 0 TD.

Punt Returns:

Xavier Gipson (WR #3): 2 NO, 19 YDS, 9.5 AVG, 19 LONG, 0 TD.
Team: 2 NO, 19 YDS, 9.5 AVG, 19 LONG, 0 TD.

Kicking:

Nick Folk (#6): 2/2 FG, 100.0%, 51 LONG, 2/2 XP, 8 PTS. Folk was perfect.
Team: 2/2 FG, 100.0%, 51 LONG, 2/2 XP, 8 PTS.

Punting:

Austin McNamara (#14): 2 NO, 94 YDS, 47.0 AVG, 0 TB, 1 In 20, 55 LONG.
Team: 2 NO, 94 YDS, 47.0 AVG, 0 TB, 1 In 20, 55 LONG.

Inactives: No major inactives reported; full lineup active.

Team Stats: 23 1st Downs (9 passing, 13 rushing, 1 penalty), 7-14 3rd Down (50.0%), 1-2 4th Down (50.0%), 394 Total Yards, 212 Passing, 16/22 Comp/Att, 9.2 Yards per pass, 0 INT, 182 Rushing, 39 Att, 4.7 Yards per rush, 7-74 Penalties, 1 Turnover, 34:43 Possession. Jets averaged 6.4 yards per play, 3-4 Red Zone.

Critical Moments

First Quarter (PIT 7, NYJ 9): Jets FG (10 plays, 48 yards); Steelers TD (10 plays, 71 yards); Jets TD (6 plays, 55 yards).
Second Quarter (PIT 10, NYJ 10): Steelers FG (5 plays, 35 yards); Jets TD (7 plays, 68 yards); Jets FG (8 plays, 41 yards); Steelers TD (9 plays, 65 yards).
Third Quarter (PIT 0, NYJ 7): Jets TD (8 plays, 68 yards).
Fourth Quarter (PIT 17, NYJ 6): Steelers TD (9 plays, 68 yards); Jets fumble (0 plays); Steelers TD (2 plays, 22 yards); Jets TD (12 plays, 67 yards); Steelers FG (6 plays, 39 yards, 60-yarder); Jets downs (4 plays, 7 yards).

Head-to-Head Analysis

Pittsburgh’s 34-32 victory marked their 24th win in 52 all-time meetings with the Jets, improving their head-to-head record to 24-28 since 1970, per Pro-Football-Reference.com. The Jets’ 394 total yards (212 passing, 182 rushing) outpaced Pittsburgh’s 271 (218 passing, 53 rushing), but the Steelers’ 7 points off the Jets’ fumble, 3-of-3 red-zone efficiency, and 4 sacks were decisive. The Jets’ 7-14 third-down conversions (50.0%) and 182 rushing yards showed dominance, but 7-74 penalties and the lost fumble in the fourth quarter stalled them.

Game Standouts