PITTSBURGH — In a strong display during his first game with the Steelers, Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes and added one on the ground, helping Pittsburgh secure a decisive 37-15 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday night. Wilson, who had been sidelined for six weeks due to a calf injury, proved his worth to head coach Mike Tomlin, who opted for the seasoned quarterback over Justin Fields, who had filled in competently during Wilson’s recovery.
While Wilson may not have been at the peak of his powers reminiscent of his early days, he overcame a slow start and finished with 264 passing yards. He connected with both George Pickens and Van Jefferson for touchdowns, assisting Pittsburgh (5-2) in achieving their second consecutive win in front of enthusiastic fans at Acrisure Stadium, which notably included Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The Jets’ revamped offense, newly bolstered by the recent acquisition of Davante Adams in a trade with Las Vegas, struggled to keep pace. As a result, New York (2-5) suffered their fourth straight defeat, with an 0-2 record under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich. Aaron Rodgers managed to throw for 276 yards and secured one touchdown, finding Adams three times for a total of 30 yards, yet he also faced significant challenges, including two interceptions delivered by rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop, which the Steelers capitalized on.
The Jets initially took command of the game, surging to a 15-6 lead. They appeared poised to expand that advantage late in the first half, but Bishop intercepted a pass from Rodgers intended for Garrett Wilson, marking his first career interception. Seizing the opportunity, Russell Wilson quickly marched the Steelers 54 yards in just 48 seconds, culminating in an 11-yard touchdown pass to Pickens in the back corner of the end zone, shifting the momentum right before halftime.
Midway through the third quarter, Chris Boswell successfully kicked his third field goal of the game, putting the Steelers ahead and further building on their lead.
