The Pittsburgh Steelers know where the battle begins on Sunday.
Their Week 1 opponent, the New York Jets, arrives with a backfield overhaul and a new staff intent on changing last year’s numbers on the ground. Despite ranking near the bottom of the league in rushing in 2024, fresh voices lead the Jets in 2025, along with a quarterback whose speed and strength can pressure defenses.
“We’ve got to begin with their run game,” Mike Tomlin said during his Tuesday press conference. “Coach Glenn has made it clear that establishing the run is their priority, and that commitment has our attention as we get ready,” according to a team report.
Justin Fields headlines that threat. The quarterback’s ability to create yards after contact makes him a different type of runner than most at the position. His size, strength and long-run potential add another layer to the Jets’ offense, which is guided by head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. Both previously worked in Detroit, where the Lions ranked among the NFL’s top rushing teams with a two-back system.
That approach now transfers to New York with Breece Hall and Braelon Allen sharing the workload. Hall’s quickness and versatility remain the centerpiece, while Allen’s bruising style showed up immediately as a rookie. Together, they mirror the thunder-and-lightning dynamic Glenn and Engstrand helped manage in Detroit.
For Pittsburgh, the assignment is clear: hold the line without Derrick Harmon. The rookie lineman is sidelined, leaving veterans Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton to anchor the interior. Preseason standout Yahya Black also figures to join the rotation as the Steelers stick with a group effort up front.
Coach Mike Tomlin emphasized that defending modern ground games is less about what happened a year ago and more about adjusting in the moment. He pointed to both roster additions and schematic wrinkles as part of the Steelers’ preparation, according to Jim Wexell of Steelers.com.
The Jets will test that readiness early.
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