The one Jets player who could spoil the Steelers’ Week 1 revenge game

The New York Jets enter Week 1 of the 2025 season as 2.5-point home underdogs against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Aaron Rodgers returns to take on his former team, and the expectation is that he will get his revenge against the Jets. It's a new era of football in New York, and it's going to take some time for Aaron Glenn to install his culture and for the offense to get up to speed.

But we know that Week 1 tends to be a bit random, and the Jets do have quite a bit of talent on both sides of their roster. It wouldn't be a shock if the Jets pulled off the upset, but there are going to need to be several players who outperform expectations against the Steelers.

One such player is Armand Membou, the first-round pick for the Jets, who is about to have one of the toughest matchups of his career.

A strong Armand Membou Week 1 performance is just what the Jets need

There is nothing like starting an NFL career against one of the league’s best pass rushers in T.J. Watt. The former Defensive Player of the Year will primarily lineup across Membou, who will get the start for the Jets in Week 1. It was a shaky preseason for the top-10 pick, but the Jets are hopeful that Membou can be the long-term starter at right tackle.

The Jets would be foolish not to give Membou help, and lining up a tight end to chip Watt has been the most effective way to minimize his impact. But it’s not feasible to do that on every snap, which means there are going to be plenty of reps where Membou is forced to block Watt in one-on-one situations.

No one is expecting Membou to shut out the All-Pro pass rusher, but the Jets would love nothing more than for him to win his fair share of matchups. If the Jets can mitigate the impact of Watt, then there is a chance the offense can run the ball and score some points. But it’s hard to see a situation where Watt has a strong game and the Jets emerge victorious.

The Jets used the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft so that they could eliminate elite pass rushers like Watt and give their quarterback plenty of time in the pocket. Membou will be tested right out of the gate, and a strong performance by the former Missouri star could go a long way to improving this offensive line.

Keep an eye on this matchup on Sunday as the winner will likely determine the outcome of this Week 1 contest.  

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