Aaron Rodgers returns to MetLife Stadium to face his former team as the Pittsburgh Steelers kick off their 2025 season with a road game against the New York Jets.
Rodgers signed on Pittsburgh for what most expect to be his final act in the NFL, having left the Jets following a nightmare spell in New York.
Following a blockbuster trade from the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers suffered a ruptured Achilles four plays into his debut with the Jets in 2023, and his only full season with them was dreadful as they slumped to a 5-12 finish.
With a regime change for the Jets, Rodgers was told they would be going in a different direction, and he will be targeting revenge as the Steelers look to start what they hope will be a season in which they seriously contend on the right foot.
Pittsburgh exited the playoffs in the Wild Card Round last season, their success in reaching the playoffs in part down to Justin Fields, who went 4-2 as a starter for the Steelers to begin the 2024 campaign before being benched for Russell Wilson.
Fields signed with the Jets on a two-year contract this offseason and will go against a defense he knows very well as he aims to show the Steelers that they made the wrong decision in not making him their solution under center.
But Fields hopes of doing so have already suffered a setback, with the Jets losing guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, their best offensive lineman, to a torn tricep.
Vera-Tucker will miss the entire season, with Joe Tippmann likely to slide over from center to right guard to fill the void.
The Jets need that change to work immediately against a Steelers defensive line that features T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Cam Hayward. Pittsburgh will be without rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon due to a knee injury.
Yet the Jets’ defense is similarly imposing with high-level talent at every level. If the likes of Quinnen Williams, Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson can harass Rodgers while the secondary forces him to hold the ball, it could be a difficult return to New York for the future Hall of Famer.
Prediction for Pittsburgh Steelers @ New York Jets
The Steelers are the favorites, but on the road in a hostile environment, it may be difficult for Rodgers to build the necessary chemistry with DK Metcalf and his receivers against an extremely talented defense.
It’s likely to be another tough season for the Jets, but they have enough weapons on both sides of the ball to make it a disappointing day for Rodgers and start the Aaron Glenn era off with a close win.
Prediction: Jets 20-17 Steelers
How to watch Pittsburgh Steelers @ New York Jets
Sunday’s game will be broadcast on CBS. Here is the broadcast map detailing the areas in which it will be available.
The game can be streamed on Paramount + and NFL +. It is also available on YouTube TV with the ‘Sunday Ticket’ package.
