PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets are maintaining their spirits despite the recent signing of All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams. The two stars reunited in New York following the Jets’ acquisition of Adams from Las Vegas earlier in the week. However, in their first game together with the Jets, both players struggled to rekindle the successful on-field chemistry they once enjoyed in Green Bay, as Pittsburgh rallied in the second half to secure a convincing 37-15 victory on Sunday night.

Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich noted the potential for a strong connection between Rodgers and Adams, stating, “You can see the great synergy… They were on the same page. It has been a while since they played together, and I believe that as we move forward, their relationship and production will improve.” This game marked the second outing for the Jets under Ulbrich’s leadership, following the dismissal of Robert Saleh on October 8. The defeat dropped New York’s record to 2-5 and marked their first four-game losing streak since last season’s five-game slump.

Rodgers completed 24 of 39 attempts for 276 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions in the game. Adams was targeted nine times but ended up with just three receptions for 30 yards. Rodgers reflected on their early chances, saying, “I threw a wide one to him on the first one… I felt like we were on the same page on that one.” During their time together in Green Bay, Adams caught 615 passes from Rodgers, accumulating 7,517 yards and 68 touchdowns over eight seasons. Adams had previously missed three games with the Raiders due to a hamstring injury that coincided with a trade request.

So far this season with Las Vegas, Adams had recorded 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown. The talented receiver has had five seasons with over 100 receptions, including a career-high of 123 catches in 2021 with Rodgers. Adams remarked, “I wouldn’t say it’s rust… We can continue to get on a better page. It’s just football. It doesn’t always work perfectly.”

The Jets initially took a 15-6 lead, scoring touchdowns on two of their first five drives. Running back Breece Hall found the end zone on a 13-yard run, and tight end Tyler Conklin caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers. However, Pittsburgh responded with 31 unanswered points following Conklin’s touchdown. Two crucial interceptions by Rodgers, thrown to Beanie Bishop, contributed to the Jets’ struggles. After a punt and a blocked field goal, New York was unable to progress on their next five attempts, turning the ball over on downs each time. Hall had a strong first half with 114 scrimmage yards but was held to just 27 yards thereafter.

Following the game, Rodgers expressed regret over his first interception, admitting, “It was a bad throw… It changed the entire energy of the game.” In addition, star pass-rusher Haason Reddick is set to rejoin the Jets after ending his holdout; he has yet to play this season due to a contract dispute. Acquired from Philadelphia to strengthen the Jets’ pass rush, Reddick has not made an impact yet but is expected to bring much-needed support moving forward.

Despite entering the game with the second-ranked defense in the league, the Jets could muster only one sack as the Steelers racked up 409 total yards and matched a season-high of 37 points—marking the first time since 2020 that Pittsburgh scored 30 points in consecutive games. Reddick, a two-time Pro Bowler with 58 sacks across seven NFL seasons, returns to a team facing challenges after another loss. “Everything is still right in front of us,” said Rodgers. “We need to sustain belief within the locker room and strive to begin a winning streak. We can’t win 10 games in a row unless we first secure the initial win.”