4 winners (and 3 losers) from Jets' heartbreaking Week 1 loss to Steelers

The New York Jets didn’t get the result they wanted in Week 1, but there were still reasons for optimism in their season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A new era under Aaron Glenn officially kicked off, and the team showed flashes of growth despite the heartbreaking 34-32 finish at MetLife Stadium. Both Justin Fields and Aaron Rodgers impressed in their respective revenge games.

From Fields’ excellent debut to standout performances on both sides of the ball, the Jets proved they have pieces to build around in 2025. There were also costly mistakes that need to be addressed, but plenty for fans to feel encouraged about moving forward.

Here are four winners and three losers from the Jets’ Week 1 loss to the Steelers.

Winners and losers from Jets' encouraging Week 1 loss to Steelers

Winner: QB Justin Fields

Justin Fields put together what was legitimately one of the best games of his NFL career on Sunday. The former Bears first-round pick completed 16-of-22 passes for 218 yards, a touchdown, and no turnovers, while adding 48 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

Fields’ ball placement was sharp, he made plays with his legs without relying on them, kept his eyes downfield to extend plays, operated smoothly within the structure of the offense, and avoided any major mistakes.

If this is the version of Fields the Jets are getting, not only is this team going to win some football games this year, but they may just have found more than a bridge QB solution. It's just one game, but it's hard to imagine a better start for the fifth-year quarterback.

Loser: CB Brandon Stephens

The same can’t be said for the Jets’ other big free-agent signing, Brandon Stephens. The former Ravens cornerback was a disaster in his debut, looking every bit like the player who ranked among the worst at his position in Baltimore.

Stephens was targeted a whopping seven times, allowing five catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns. He was also flagged for a defensive pass interference penalty and allowed a 136.9 NFL passer rating when targeted.

Stephens was the most targeted cornerback in the NFL over the last two seasons for a reason. If the Jets got even semi-competent play from their CB2 in Sunday's game, they probably would have come away with the win. Instead, the Stephens already looks to be a head-scratcher for the organization.

Winner: RB Breece Hall

Breece Hall has found himself at the center of trade rumors for months following what was admittedly a highly disappointing 2024 season. An underwhelming summer did little to quiet those rumors, with many predicting he would be shipped out by the deadline.

But if Sunday's game proved anything, it's that Hall is an indispensable part of this offense. The former second-round pick rushed for 107 yards on 19 carries, averaging an impressive 5.6 yards per attempt without a run longer than 18 yards.

Hall looked more explosive and decisive than he did a year ago, resembling the 2023 version of himself who finished fourth in the NFL in scrimmage yards. If this is the Breece Hall the Jets are getting in 2025, it won’t be long before his name disappears from trade rumors altogether.

Loser: PR/WR Xavier Gipson

The Jets made the controversial decision to stick with incumbent Xavier Gipson as their starting punt returner over undrafted rookie Jamaal Pritchett, despite Pritchett clearly outplaying him throughout the summer.

That decision backfired immediately on Sunday, as Gipson fumbled on two returns, including a costly fourth-quarter miscue that set up an important Steelers touchdown. In many ways, Gipson’s mistake was the difference in the game for the Jets.

Head coach Aaron Glenn spoke critically of Gipson's mistake after the game, suggesting that changes could be made in the near future. Gipson’s job security might be just as shaky as his ball security.

Winner: OC Tanner Engstrand

The Jets may have lost on Sunday, but by far the biggest positive takeaway was the performance of the team's offense. There was no reason the Jets' offense should have looked as good as it did in Week 1. Coaching matters.

Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand put together an excellent game plan that emphasized the Jets' strengths, leaned on the ground game, and made life as easy as possible for Justin Fields. The Jets scored 32 points against one of the better defenses in the NFL.

Engstrand managed to overcome a significant talent gap and orchestrated one of the Jets’ most impressive offensive performances in years. Jets fans should leave Sunday’s game feeling very encouraged by the work of their offensive coaching staff.

Loser: WR Allen Lazard

The Jets raised some eyebrows when it was revealed that projected starting wide receiver Allen Lazard was a healthy scratch prior to Sunday's game. Lazard was replaced in the starting lineup by practice squad receiver Tyler Johnson.

The longtime Aaron Rodgers teammate has been at the center of trade rumors for months, and the Jets’ decision to make him inactive on Sunday only adds more uncertainty to his future.

It's possible the Jets only rostered Lazard for the start of the season because they didn't want him reuniting with Rodgers and their Week 1 opponent, the Steelers. Either way, it seems unlikely that he will be a major factor in the Jets' offense this year.

Winner: RT Armand Membou

The entire Jets' offensive line deserves a shoutout for its performance on Sunday. Despite losing arguably the unit's best player, Alijah Vera-Tucker, to injury just days before the season-opener, the Jets' offensive line bullied Pittsburgh in the run game and held up well in pass protection against a stacked Steelers front.

No performance was more impressive, however, than that of rookie Armand Membou. The Jets' first-round pick made his debut on Sunday, drawing a matchup against one of the NFL's most vaunted pass rushers, T.J. Watt.

Membou finished the game as the Jets' second-highest-graded offensive player behind only Justin Fields, according to preliminary Pro Football Focus grades. He allowed zero total pressures on 25 pass-block snaps. You couldn't have asked for a better debut from the Jets' rookie tackle.