In a commanding Week 7 Sunday Night Football win, the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) defeated the New York Jets (2-5) 37-15, with Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson leading the charge. Wilson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, completing 16 of 29 passes for 264 yards. Despite some early struggles and facing boos from the home crowd, Wilson rallied his team with a steady performance that helped Pittsburgh maintain its momentum in the AFC North.
The game got off to a slow start for Wilson and the Steelers‘ offense. A series of sputtering drives in the first half drew brief chants for backup quarterback Justin Fields, but Wilson silenced the criticism with an 11-yard lob to wide receiver George Pickens for a touchdown late in the second quarter. That play gave Pittsburgh a 17-10 halftime lead and allowed Wilson to exhale after facing early pressure.
Wilson’s confidence only grew in the second half. In the third quarter, he added a 1-yard touchdown run on a quarterback sneak, pushing the Steelers’ lead further. Then, in the fourth quarter, Wilson connected with Van Jefferson on a 4-yard flip for his second touchdown pass of the night. This marked the second consecutive week that the Steelers’ offense surpassed 30 points, a feat the team hadn’t accomplished since the early part of the 2020 season.
On the defensive side, Pittsburgh capitalized on key mistakes from the Jets, specifically targeting veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. While Rodgers passed for 276 yards and a touchdown, he was intercepted twice by Steelers rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop. Both turnovers proved costly, as the Steelers converted them into game-turning scores.
The Jets, now on a four-game losing streak, were unable to keep pace with Pittsburgh’s offensive efficiency. Their retooled offense, which saw the reunion of Rodgers and star wide receiver Davante Adams after Adams was acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders earlier in the week, struggled to find rhythm. Adams was held to just three catches for 30 yards, far from the explosive output the Jets had hoped for.
Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, who is now 0-2 since stepping in, will have to find a way to fix the team’s offensive woes if the Jets hope to stay competitive in the tight AFC East. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh continues to look like a playoff contender in the AFC North, especially with Wilson starting to find his groove. Steelers kicker Chris Boswell also contributed with three field goals, further cushioning the team’s lead.
As the Jets search for answers, the Steelers move forward with renewed confidence, buoyed by Wilson’s ability to rise under pressure and a defense that continues to make game-changing plays.