While there were a few surprises during Week 1 of the NFL season, the performances of quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields stood out by a distance. The season-opener, which pitted the Steelers’ new signal caller, Rodgers, against his former team, was bound to bring out fireworks from the 20-year veteran, who had a point to prove. But Fields also had an outstanding game for the New York Jets.
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Fields and the Jets’ offense looked nearly unstoppable for much of the game, stringing together scoring drives with ease. The 26-year-old quarterback not only lived up to the preseason hype but far exceeded it.
Against a stacked Steelers defense, Fields delivered sharp passes with precision and made plays with his legs. One of his best moments came on a perfectly placed deep ball to Garrett Wilson for a touchdown, highlighting just how far his game has come. ESPN’s Mina Kimes, while analysing the game, admitted that Fields far exceeded her expectations.
Kimes called Fields “fantastic” and “the best quarterback in that game,” even though Rodgers and the Steelers won the matchup eventually. For Kimes, the Jets quarterback’s poise, accuracy, and ability to spark the offense came as a shock.
“That was, to me, one of the most shocking performances of Week 1 because I did not have high hopes for the Jets offense, particularly coming off the offseason — and they completely proved me wrong,” she said on Rich Eisen’s show.
Eisen also highlighted how Fields’ performance seemed to open things up for the Jets’ run game. That prompted Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin to acknowledge something rare: His defense had been outplayed in the trenches.
“It’s very rare for the Jets, who have struggled against most teams the last couple years, to leave a coach, let alone Mike Tomlin, saying, ‘We need to button up our run defense after that last game,’” emphasized Eisen.
However, in the end, it was Rodgers who got the last laugh. The Steelers pulled out a thrilling 34-32 win in one of the most entertaining matchups of opening weekend.
Rodgers delivered a stellar performance, completing 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Remarkably, the veteran had only hit the four-touchdown mark once all of last season, making his debut outing with Pittsburgh all the more promising.
Kimes praised Rodgers’ efficiency and control, adding that his approach had set the tone for the Steelers’ offensive rhythm. “What we saw from Rodgers is going to be what we’re going to see all year long, which is really efficient quarterback play,” she explained.
The analyst pointed to Rodgers’ accuracy, his ability to create yards after the catch, and the way he mixed in “a few kill shots off the boots” as signs of a replicable, sustainable style of play.
If Kimes is to be believed, Rodgers’ methodical efficiency is here to stay. Fields, on the other hand, has given fans and analysts alike a reason to believe that he may finally help the Jets turn a corner.
