The final result of the New York Jets versus the Pittsburgh Steelers matchup could come down to a surprising factor.
Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers explained how the “unscouted looks” of Week 1 could decide the season opener.
“I mean, there is always unscouted looks. Over the years, different analytics people have said it’s in the 30% to 40% as far as the unscouted things,” Rodgers told the media.
“Obviously, they have held a number of things, I’m sure, in the preseason. We have held a number of things that we haven’t run on offense & defense. There will be a lot of unscouted looks that’ll be perhaps the deciding factor in the game: who handles the unscouted looks the best,” Rodgers said.
#Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers believes a sneaky thing could decide the game vs the #Jets in Week 1:
‘I mean there is always unscouted looks. Over the years different analytics people have said it’s in the 30% to 40% as far as the unscouted things.
Obviously they have held a… pic.twitter.com/NLDSuVeXut
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) September 4, 2025
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The Jets Will Have the Element of Surprise
Entering the 2025 season, the Jets have a first-time playcaller at the NFL level with Tanner Engstrand at the controls.
That certainly has its pros and cons.
The cons are obvious: Engstrand hasn’t run an operation at this level, unknown identity, and has no history of success.
The element of surprise highlights the pros. Pittsburgh can’t possibly prepare for what Engstrand is going to cook up because there is no tape on it.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin explained at his presser this week the levels of speculation they have had to deal with in their preparation.
Steelers Insider Gives Edge to Pittsburgh on QB Surprise Factor: Exclusive
The Jets are intimately familiar with Rodgers from his time in the green and white over the last two years. Pittsburgh is intimately familiar with Justin Fields from his time with the team last season, starting six games.
So, who has the advantage: Pittsburgh or New York?
“It’s a good question, obviously, it sort of washes out to some degree as both sides are familiar with each other. If I had to give the edge to one, I think Pittsburgh has more of the edge because the coaching staff remains the same. The Jets have a new regime, so Aaron Glenn was not coaching Aaron Rodgers last year, and the same for that whole staff over there; it was a complete turnover. Pittsburgh didn’t make many coaching staff changes: the head coach is the same, the DC is the same, of course, they had Justin Fields, and they know him inside and out. The quarterback coach is the same,” Steelers insider Alex Kozora told me on “Boy Green Daily.”
Rodgers Refuses to Provide Any Bulletin Board Material Ahead of Week 1
Rodgers was asked if there was any extra juice to Week 1, knowing he was facing his old team, the Jets, in MetLife Stadium, or if it was just business as usual.
“Yeah. It’s Week 1,” Rodgers told the media via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.
Rodgers wasn’t so brief with his answers immediately following his firing from the Jets earlier this offseason.
The former Cal product let it fly on “The Pat McAfee Show,” describing his final meeting with the Jets where he felt “disrespected.”
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