Trailing by nine points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Steelers turned it around in a 53-second sequence, scoring a touchdown, recovering a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and then scoring again. Still, they trailed, 32-31 when Chris Boswell stepped up and calmly boomed a team record 60-yard field goal for the game-winning points in a 34-32 win over the New York Jets.
Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes and the Steelers overcame a leaky defense that gave up 394 total yards, 182 of them on the ground. The Jets were plenty helpful, committing major penalties on two Steelers scoring drives, one for hitting a player out of bounds and one for pass interference.
Rodgers was sacked four times, three of them when tackle Broderick Jones was beaten by a Jets rusher. And the Steelers’ offense struggled mightily in the run game, with Jaylen Warren able to gain only 37 yards.
The game ended with Jalen Ramsey jarring the ball loose from Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson on a fourth down pass.
Coach Mike Tomlin says it was a great way to start a season.
Tomlin says it took an entire team effort to get a win.
Rodgers says Tomlin and the Steelers coaching staff put them in position to win.
Rodgers says the game might not have gone as planned, but thanks to a wild finish, the result was what they were after.
Next up for the Steelers is the home opener vs Seattle at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday at one o’clock.
Steelers injuries included two starters in the secondary. Safety DeShon Elliott had a knee injury and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was shut down with a hamstring issue. Linebacker Malik Harrison suffered a knee injury and Cam Heyward left the game briefly after being poked in the eye.
The Steelers’ AFC North rivals were all in action yesterday. Baltimore lost to Buffalo 41-40 on a field goal as time expired. The Bengals nipped the Browns, 17-16.
