Russell Wilson throws 2 TD passes, runs for another in Pittsburgh debut as Steelers rout Jets
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) celebrates his touchdown with offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. (65) in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) talks on the bench in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31) celebrates his interception with linebacker Payton Wilson (41) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31) returns an interception in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts from the sideline in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) celebrates a first down catch in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) pulls in a pass reception against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) in the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) celebrates his touchdown reception against New York Jets with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
PITTSBURGH — Russell Wilson’s Pittsburgh debut could not have gone much better.
The veteran quarterback, picked up in the offseason from Denver, threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in his first game of the season to lead the Steelers to a 37-15 win over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on Sunday night.
The 35-year-old Wilson, who spent the first six weeks watching from the sideline while recovering from a calf injury, validated head coach Mike Tomlin's decision to turn to the nine-time Pro Bowler over Justin Fields, who was steady if not always spectacular in Wilson's absence.
Though he's not quite in the “Let Russ Cook” era of his prime, Wilson looked more than capable while overcoming a sluggish start to pass for 264 yards, including scores to George Pickens and Van Jefferson as Pittsburgh (5-2) won its second straight in front of a packed Acrisure Stadium crowd.
New York's retooled offense — which now includes Davante Adams, who was reunited with Rodgers earlier this week after being acquired in a trade with Las Vegas — couldn't keep up as the Jets (2-5) dropped their fourth consecutive game, including an 0-2 mark under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.
Rodgers passed for 276 yards with a touchdown and connected with Adams three times for 30 yards. But he was also intercepted twice by Pittsburgh rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop, and the Steelers turned those into game-turning scores.
The Jets were in control early, racing to a 15-6 lead and had a chance to extend it late in the first half when Bishop stepped in front of Rodgers' pass intended for Garrett Wilson at midfield for his first career interception.
Russell Wilson led Pittsburgh 54 yards in 48 seconds, the last 11 on a lob to Pickens in the back corner of the end zone to give the Steelers momentum heading into halftime.
Chris Boswell kicked the third of three field goals midway through the third quarter to put the Steelers in front.
Rodgers tried to hit Garrett Wilson down the left sideline on New York’s next possession, but the ball bounced off Wilson and into Bishop’s hands. Bishop raced to the Jets’ 1, only failing to score because a sprinting Adams chased him down just short of the goal line.
No matter, Wilson bulled his way into the end zone on the next play and led a clinching drive in the fourth that ended with a 4-yard flip to Van Jefferson. The score by Jets wide receivers coach Sean Jefferson's son, who spent the first six weeks as an afterthought, gave the Steelers 30 points in back-to-back games for the first time since early in the 2020 season.
Tomlin raised some eyebrows earlier in the week when he opted to turn to Wilson over Fields, who had racked up 10 touchdowns (five passing, five rushing) against just one turnover in six starts. Tomlin’s reasoning was simple: The Steelers had been good, but “not to be confused with great.”
Though there is work to do, Wilson looked in command at times against one of the league’s better defenses while completing 16 of 29 passes. The volatile Pickens finished with five receptions for 111 yards and his first score of the season.
Jets: G Xavier Newman was carted off with a neck injury after getting blocked on Bishop’s interception return early in the second half. He was taken to the hospital for observation but had movement in his extremities.
Steelers: DT Montravius Adams exited in the first half with a knee injury. ... CB Donte Jackson left in the first half with a shoulder injury.
Steelers: Host the New York Giants on Oct. 28.
