Jets vs. Steelers: Russell Wilson leads Pittsburgh to convincing win over New York in Davante Adams' first game with new team

At last week’s NFL owners meeting, after his New York Jets pulled off a trade for Davante Adams less than 24 hours after falling to 2-4 on the season, owner Woody Johnson proclaimed that his team was “going to kick … you can fill the word in."

Maybe that starts next week.

This season the Jets were expected to be Super Bowl contenders, or at least break the longest playoff drought in American professional sports, while the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to finally see their streak of non-losing seasons end. But there’s a reason the Jets are the Jets and the Steelers are the Steelers.

The results didn’t change for the Jets after adding Adams. They still look lost this season, falling to 2-5 with a 37-15 defeat to the Steelers.

The Steelers didn’t look any different either, despite a quarterback change. They’re 5-2, and 1-0 with Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback. Wilson replaced Justin Fields and after a slow start, he made plays and led the Steelers to their highest point total of the season.

It wasn’t a good outing for the Jets. Maybe they’ll make another trade this week.

Wilson got his first start for the Steelers and it didn’t begin that well. It took Wilson a while to get in a rhythm. Or, it took him a while to realize George Pickens is fantastic on contested catches. Once Pickens made a few plays, Wilson settled in.

The Jets had the early lead though. Breece Hall and Tyler Conklin scored touchdowns and the Jets led 15-13 going into halftime. But it’s the 2024 Jets; eventually it all unraveled.

Rodgers had a couple of tough luck interceptions to undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. On the first one Bishop made a great play, turning and reaching out at the last second with one hand to bring in the pick. On the second, Rodgers delivered a good ball to the normally reliable Garrett Wilson, but the ball bounced off Wilson’s chest and right to Bishop. He returned that one to the 1-yard line. Wilson scored on a quarterback sneak the next play.

The second half was impressive for the Steelers. It would have been easy for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to stick with Justin Fields after the team’s good start to the season, but he has been dug in on Wilson being his quarterback since the team acquired him. Fields got to start because Wilson had an injured calf, but Tomlin went back to him when he could. It’s hard to argue with the results.

Meanwhile, the Jets can’t push any right buttons this season.

The Jets fired Robert Saleh. They lost to the Buffalo Bills their next game. They traded for Adams. They lost to the Steelers their next game.

They keep digging their hole deeper. New York wanted to make a run with Rodgers. They seemed to be down to one last shot with Rodgers after the quarterback tore his Achilles in the season opener last year. Nothing has looked right for the Jets all season. Rodgers has had some flashes of his former greatness but overall the team has been too sloppy to win. The defense, which had been very good the past two seasons, hasn’t been as dominant. Everything with the Jets seems a bit off.

Meanwhile, the Steelers just keep winning as usual. Wilson has been the subject of countless jokes after he failed with the Denver Broncos and he didn’t look good in the preseason, but Tomlin knew what he was doing when he made the change. He kept referencing Wilson’s successful résumé, and on Sunday night Wilson looked more like that player who was a star with the Seattle Seahawks. Maybe Wilson will fall apart like he did in Denver, but the first look at him with the Steelers was positive. He looked like a quarterback who at the very least can spread the ball around and boost Pickens, the team’s top playmaker.

Things always seem to work out for the Steelers. The opposite is true for the Jets. Maybe that’s not a coincidence.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER45 updates
  • Steelers improve to 5-2 with comfortable win over Jets

  • Steelers take it under the two minute mark

    Once the Steelers took control of the game with the two interceptions that Russell Wilson and co. turned into touchdowns, it was downhill from there for the Jets. It wasn't just the passing attack, but the Steelers salted away the game, running the ball, and Najee Harris puts an exclamation mark on the game, that'll be a boon for Fantasy Managers with Harris.

  • Russell Wilson also in control

    Wilson is looking the part of the veteran that had a grasp on the starting job coming out of camp. Pittsburgh is also running the ball well, averaging more than 4.0 yards per carry with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

  • Steelers defense in control

    The Jets have more than 300 yards of total offense, but its been tough sledding on the ground. The Jets are averaging just 3.0 yards per carry on the ground, and while Rodgers has 269 passing yards, there are also the two interceptions and several batted balls at the line of scrimmage by the Pittsburgh front seven. The Jets haven't scored since the second quarter.

  • Garrett Wilson picks up 27

    Wilson is up to 61 receiving yards on five receptions for the night as the Jets get the ball to the 25 yard line.

  • Jets penalties slowing drive

    Tyron Smith and Garrett Wilson have both been flagged for false starts on this drive, and the Jets can't have flags as they try to dig out of this hole with under 10 minutes to play in the game.

  • Van Jefferson hauls in Russell Wilson's second touchdown pass of the game

    Steelers are doubling up the Jets now after Wilson's second TD pass. The Steelers have ripped of 24 straight points to take a 30-15 lead, with the Pittsburgh offense looking much sharper in this second half than it has for much of the season.

  • End of 3rd quarter: Steelers 23, Jets 15

    The Steelers' defense has showed up tonight, much has it has throughout the season, forcing two interceptions and the Steelers have also blocked a field goal. Meanwhile Russell Wilson has been good in his first start with the Steelers, throwing for 224 yards through the first three quarters.

    In the third quarter, Jets offensive lineman Xavier Newman was carted off the field and taken to a nearby hospital. He was strapped to a backboard before being loaded onto the cart. He was conscious and and had movement in his limbs as he was being taken off the field.

  • Xavier Newman has been taken to a Pittsburgh hospital and does have movement in his extremities

  • Steelers block field goal attempt!

    After being flagged earlier in the game while blocking a PAT, Dean Lowry gets a paw on the Greg Zuerlein field goal to keep the game at 23-15.

  • Aaron Rodgers needs to see the cut man for his left hand

  • Steelers take lead on Russell Wilson QB sneak

    Two Aaron Rodgers interceptions have led to two Pittsburgh Steelers touchdowns, and the Jets find themselves now trailing by eight. The Steelers' defense has been making big plays throughout the game, as they have for the whole of this first third of the season.

  • Jets offensive lineman Xavier Newman carted off the field

    After the interception, Newman was hit on a block by Patrick Queen. No penalty was called on the play. Newman went down on the Jets' sideline and the whole team surrounded him as he was being loaded onto a backboard and moved to a cart to be taken off the field.

    Newman had replaced Alijah Vera-Tucker at guard. Vera-Tucker left the game with an injury in the first half. NBC Sports' Melissa Stark did report during the broadcast that Newman was conscious while being put on the backboard and onto the cart

    SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 9: Guard Xavier Newman #65 of the New York Jets stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, at Levi's Stadium on September 9, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
    SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 9: Guard Xavier Newman #65 of the New York Jets stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, at Levi's Stadium on September 9, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
  • Beanie Bishop again!

    This one might not be on Aaron Rodgers....Garrett Wilson let the ball get too deep to his chest plate, and when it bounced off, Bishop was there to take it all the way back to the 1-yard-line.

  • Chris Boswell has been busy tonight

    Another red zone trip for Pittsburgh comes up a little short. The Steelers have taken the lead at 16-15, but Mike Tomlin did say the issues he wanted fixed in the second half were getting better on third down and also getting touchdowns rather than field goals. Its always better to be playing from in front, but the Steelers' coach will be looking for his offense to finish better going forward.

  • Russell Wilson dropping DIMES

  • George Pickens is having himself a night of highlights

    This is an excellent throw from Russell Wilson, but the concentration by Pickens is otherworldly on the 37-yard gain.

  • Jets open second half with a first down and then punt.

    Aaron Rodgers hit Garrett Wilson a couple of times coming out of the half to get things moving to about midfield, but the Steelers pass rush forced a 3rd down incompletion to get New York off the field. Back comes the Steelers offense, and the Jets defense, which will have Sauce Gardner. He came off the field on the last drive of the first half with an apparent leg injury, but interim coach Jeff Ulbrich told NBC Sports' Melissa Stark that Gardner was going to give it a go in the second half.

  • Halftime: Jets 15, Steelers 13

    The Beanie Bishop interception of Aaron Rodgers at the end of the first half changed the complexion of the game as the Steelers were able to cash in with a touchdown and turn a two-score lead into a one score game heading into the locker rooms for the break. Davante Adams has three catches for 30 yards as he's being worked into the offense, but has been on the field for the entire first half. In the other major debut of the night, Russell Wilson has thrown for 145 yards and a touchdown for Pittsburgh — In three of his six starts this season Justin Fields threw for 145 yards or fewer for the whole game.

    PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 20: Davante Adams #17 of the New York Jets is tackled by Joey Porter Jr. #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
    PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 20: Davante Adams #17 of the New York Jets is tackled by Joey Porter Jr. #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
  • Russell Wilson throws his first Steelers touchdown to George Pickens

    After Pickens drew a pass interference penalty on Sauce Gardner to get the ball to the 11-yard-line — and Gardner limped off the field after that — Pickens hauled in a pass from Wilson for the first Pittsburgh touchdown of the night to cash in on the interception, and get Pittsburgh within one score.

  • Beanie Bishop gives Pittsburgh life with a late-first half interception

  • Will McDonald IV collects his eighth sack of the season for the Jets

  • Russell Wilson hits Pat Freiermuth for 30

    The Steelers tight ends have a couple of big grabs tonight...three catches for 63 yards in the first half between Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.

  • Jets go up 15-6 after penalty, two-point conversion try

    Minkah Fitzpatrick was flagged for leverage on his way to blocking the PAT after the Conklin touchdown. After the penalty, The Jets chose to go for two from the 1-yard-line and and got it as Rodgers connected with Garrett Wilson in the endzone.

  • Tyler Conklin finishes the drive with a 1-yard-touchdown catch

    Breece Hall appeared to have possibly scored on the previous play, but interim coach Jeff Ulbrich dropped the challenge flag before he could throw it. No harm, no foul for the Jets.

  • Breece Hall with a 56-yard catch and run

    I sure hope you've got Breece Hall on your Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football team. four catches, 93 yards and five carries, 10 yards and a touchdown after this huge one.

  • After the chunk play, Pittsburgh gets another field goal

    The big play was a welcome one for the Steelers, but the drive stalled almost immediately after that, and Pittsburgh settled for the Boswell field goal. The deep ball wasnt something that was a part of the offense with Justin Fields, but the Steelers are going to need to start putting together drives of multiple first downs. 7-6, Jets still lead

  • And as if on cue....

    A Russell Wilson moon ball. Thank you very much, George Pickens.

  • Russell Wilson is off to a bit of a slow start

    2-for-8 with just 19 yards and a couple of very poor misses, and three consecutive 3-and-outs after the game-opening field goal drive. The Steelers have a total of nine yards on those three short drives, and the end of that last drive brought out some boo-birds at Acrisure Stadium.

  • End 1st Quarter: Jets 7, Steelers 3

    The Jets had an 82-yard touchdown drive and Breece Hall was the start of that march, capping the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run. Aaron Rodgers targeted Davante Adams three times in the first quarter and he made one catch for nine yards.

    Across the field Russell Wilson was 2-for-6 for 19 yards making his first start for Pittsburgh. A big Najee Harris run on the Steelers' first drive got them in position to get the opening field goal.

    Oct 20, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) warms up before the game against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
    Oct 20, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) warms up before the game against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
  • Best on Best

    This round goes to Joey Porter...

  • Breece Hall finishes the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run

    It's the third rushing TD of the season for Breece Hall

  • Breece Hall with a couple of Chunk plays and the Jets are on the move

  • Rodgers and Adams make their first connection in a Jets uniform

  • Jets take the field and Aaron Rodgers' first pass is incomplete

    The pass was to Davante Adams, and while it was catchable, it was a little off target, and Adams couldn't bring it in on the first offensive snap. The Steelers would hold and get a Larry Ogunjobi sack for a quick 3-and-out.

  • Chris Boswell gets Steelers on the board first

    Nice touch with the classic graphics from the Steelers social media department.

  • Najee Harris with a big run on the opening drive

  • Steelers get the ball first and Russell Wilson is getting the start

    Wilson, remember, won the job coming out of camp, but a calf injury sidelined him for the start of the season. Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh offense have had a hard time getting out of first gear over the first month and a half of the season, and with Wilson healthy — even though the Steelers are 4-2 — Coach Mike Tomlin went to make the change to see what he's got in both Wilson and Fields.

    Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
    Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
  • Davante Adams in a Jets Uniform 👀

    And his old buddy in the background...

  • Classic NFL Uniform enthusiasts will love this matchup

    This is a look at the Jets and Steelers in the Late 80s, and while there have some updates to the shape and cut of the uniforms and the paint on the helmets and facemasks, tonight's game is certainly a classic look, with the Jets reviving this uniform design this season and the Steelers in throwbacks, honoring their first Super Bowl champion team.

    EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 13:  Defensive linemen Joe Klecko #73 and Barry Bennett #78 of the New York Jets look across the line of scrimmage at the Pittsburgh Steelers during a game at Giants Stadium on December 13, 1986 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  The Steelers defeated the Jets 45-24.   (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
    EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 13: Defensive linemen Joe Klecko #73 and Barry Bennett #78 of the New York Jets look across the line of scrimmage at the Pittsburgh Steelers during a game at Giants Stadium on December 13, 1986 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Steelers defeated the Jets 45-24. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
    Warren Williams #42, Running Back for the Pittsburgh Steelers runs onto the ball during the American Football Conference East game against the New York Jets on 30 October 1988 at the Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. The Jets won the game 24 - 20.  (Photo by T.G. Higgins/Allsport/Getty Images)
    Warren Williams #42, Running Back for the Pittsburgh Steelers runs onto the ball during the American Football Conference East game against the New York Jets on 30 October 1988 at the Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. The Jets won the game 24 - 20. (Photo by T.G. Higgins/Allsport/Getty Images)
  • Jets inactives for Sunday Night Football

  • The Steelers are in their throwback uniforms tonight

    There have only been subtle changes over the past five decades to the Steelers uniforms, most notably the switch from block numerals to an italicized number font. Also, Pittsburgh will be rocking gray facemasks for tonight's game.

  • The Steelers are honoring the 50th anniversary of their first Super Bowl winning team

    Legends are in the house at Acrisure Stadium for the celebration tonight.

  • Steelers inactives for Sunday Night Football

  • Russell Wilson gets the start tonight for the Steelers, and here's what Mike Tomlin said about making the change