Sunday night, September 7, at MetLife Stadium felt like a clash of eras. It was a role reversal for both QBs on the field. On one sideline stood Aaron Rodgers, the veteran and symbol of the Jets’ old guard, now with the Steelers. On the other hand, Justin Fields, the young quarterback, is igniting a new era with Jets this year. Both led their teams in the season opener that was electric, unpredictable, and ultimately left the NFL with more questions than answers.

“You can only choose one quarterback that played in MetLife on Sunday to say that week one performance is how we’re going to see the rest of the year play out. Justin Fields, Aaron Rodgers, you have the floor,” Rich Eisen challenged ESPN’s Mina Kimes on his show on September 10, framing the drama of the matchup.

And Kimes didn’t hold back. “I thought Justin Fields was fantastic. I thought he was actually the best quarterback in that game,” she said. “However, I think what we saw from Rodgers is going to be what we’re going to see all year long, which is really efficient quarterback play. He was accurate, set his receivers up to get yards after the catch, then hit a few kill shots off of the boots. That, I think, is something that’s very replicable.” And while she added that she’d want to see a bit more of the 26-year-old before she forms a more permanent opinion, she had to admit one thing.

“That was, to me, one of the more shocking performances of Week 1 because I did not have high hopes for this Jets offense, particularly coming off the offseason, and they completely proved me wrong,” Kimes continued. For 31 other teams, Sunday night was a warning. Fields’ debut proved he is a dual-threat quarterback who can challenge defenses in a variety of ways.

Justin Fields completed 16 of 22 passes for 218 yards and one passing touchdown, but his impact extended far beyond the stat sheet. He also rushed for two touchdowns (2-yard and 1-yard runs) and threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson in the first quarter. Fields’ ability to threaten both through the air and on the ground forced the Steelers’ defense to stay on its heels.

On the other side, Aaron Rodgers completed 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns, showcasing the efficiency that defines his career. Rodgers’ low-risk approach and accurate throws allowed his receivers to gain yards after the catch, turning opportunities into points.

Rich Eisen added perspective on Fields’ wider impact, “Yeah. And it wasn’t just Fields, too. Maybe Fields’s appearance is what helped spark a run game as well. You know, Mike Tomlin at his podium this week, is very rare for the Jets, to leave a coach, let alone Mike Tomlin, say, ‘We need to button up our run defense after that last game.’ And they looked really efficient.”

Despite Fields’ brilliance, the Jets fell 34-32, exposing areas that need improvement. And Aaron Glenn is taking hard action.

Jets HC takes hard action against Justin Fields’ teammate

Aaron Glenn didn’t send a message. He dropped the hammer. The Jets head coach didn’t hide behind coach speak or wait for the dust to settle. He cut Xavier Gipson. The return man who cracked open the door and let Pittsburgh steal a game the Jets had locked up. This was brutal and loud. Gipson’s fumble wasn’t just a mistake. It was the turning point.

The Jets led 26-17 late in the third. Fields was in rhythm and hit back with a touchdown drive. Then disaster. A fumbled kickoff. A quick Pittsburgh strike. And a Chris Boswell dagger flipped the scoreboard. Jets walked off losers 34-32. Glenn didn’t flinch. “The one thing to me that turned this game, man, we can’t have turnovers,” he snapped.

Gipson has talent. But ten fumbles in thirty-five games is a grenade waiting to go off. And here’s the real twist. This is about Justin Fields, too. He dragged this team down the field to give them a chance. He deserved to walk away 1-0.

This is no longer the same old Jets. This is a coach making sure every rep, every snap, every possession counts. Week 2 isn’t just another game now. It’s a referendum on who’s ready to fight and who’s next to get cut.