PITTSBURGH — In a critical game, the Jets failed to end their long losing streak.
The Steelers (5-2) rolled past the Jets (2-5) 37-15 behind two Russell Wilson touchdowns in his first game of the season in front of 66,956 attendance at Acrisure Stadium.
The loss is the Jets’ fourth in a row. Gang Green has not won a game since its Sept. 17 victory against the Patriots.
Aaron Rodgers struggled after completing 24-of-39 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Running back Breece Hall led his team with six receptions for 103 yards.
For most of the night, Rodgers struggled to find open receivers and complete passes. The Jets’ offensive line only allowed one sack. However, they were 3-for-10 on third-down attempts.
Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson finished with five catches for 61 yards.
Sunday was Davante Adams’ first game in a Jets uniform. On Tuesday, he was traded from the Raiders to the Jets, which reunited him with Rodgers after the two played eight seasons in Green Bay together.
Rodgers threw to Adams on the Jets’ first offensive play of the game, but the veteran dropped the pass. Gang Green eventually went three and out on the drive. Adams finished the night with three catches for 30 yards.
Sunday also marked Russell Wilson’s return after he missed the season’s first six games due to a calf injury. After Steeler fans booed Wilson following a shaky start, he settled in and was efficient.
After registering 27 rushing yards on the game’s first drive, the Steelers took an early 3-0 lead after Chris Boswell’s 46-yard field goal. Late in the first quarter, the Jets finally got on the board after they were aided by a Steelers’ penalty.
To begin the Jets’ second drive, Hall was stopped for a one-yard loss. However, Larry Ogunjobi’s unnecessary roughness penalty on Hall gave the Jets an automatic first down. Gang Green eventually got into the end zone following a Hall 13-yard touchdown run, which gave them a 7-3 lead.
Pittsburgh trimmed into Gang Green’s lead, 7-6, in the second quarter after Boswell’s 29-yard field goal. The drive was set up by Rusell Wilson’s 44-yard pass to George Pickens, putting the Steelers in Jets’ territory.
Gang Green responded by scoring its second touchdown of the night. Hall registered a 57-yard reception down to the three-yard line. That set up Rodgers’ play-action one-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Conklin. The play was Conklin’s first touchdown since Week 8 of the 2022 season.
The Jets scored the two-point conversion after Rodgers completed a pass to Wilson in the end zone, making the score 15-6.
Just when it appeared the Jets were in complete control after the two-minute warning, Rodgers made a terrible decision, and Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr intercepted his pass.
That interception by Rodgers proved costly as Wilson found Pickens for an 11-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone. The 48-second drive cut the Jets lead to 15-13 at halftime.
Pittsburgh retook the lead at 16-15 with 7:49 in the third quarter following Boswell’s 21-yard field goal, which was his third of the night.
Gang Green tried to respond immediately, but Rodgers’ pass to Garrett Wilson was intercepted by Bishop, which was his second of the night. The pass hit Wilson right between his chest, but he couldn’t come down with it, so Bishop picked it off and returned it to the one-yard line. Wilson then scored a touchdown on a one-yard quarterback keeper to extend the Steelers lead to 23-15.
The Steelers extended their lead to 30-15 after Russell Wilson found Van Jefferson for a four-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Jets got hit by the injury bug in a significant way. Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) and safety Tony Adams (hamstring) suffered injuries and did not return. Xavier Newman replaced Vera-Tucker but injured his neck after a Rodgers interception in the third quarter. Safety Ashtyn Davis also was evaluated for a concussion.
Gang Green was already without D.J. Reed (groin) and Michael Carter II (back), who were both inactive.
The Jets will stay on the road in Week 8, and they will play the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Steelers will host the Giants on Monday Night Football.