• D.K. Metcalf raced his way to big yards: Metcalf contributed 67 of the Steelers’ 171 yards after the catch.

• Shorter passes but larger gains: Aaron Rodgers averaged only a 5.9-yard depth of target with 65.6% of his passes coming short of the sticks.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the season with a 34-32 win over the New York Jets: Dive into the PFF game recap for advanced stats, snap counts, early player grades and more!

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In the context of franchise history, the Pittsburgh Steelers took a non-traditional approach to the 2025 NFL offseason. And after one game, the results seem to be paying off.

After the Steelers lost their final six games of 2024 and extended their playoff losing drought, general manager Omar Khan got bold, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Khan traded a second-round pick for receiver D.K. Metcalf and subsequently rewarded him with a four-year, $132 million contract extension. Then, after months of rendezvous, the team inked four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to replace Russell Wilson. And in June, Khan executed one final sleight of hand, acquiring both cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins.

All four newcomers left their fingerprints on Pittsburgh’s topsy-turvy, 34-32 triumph over the New York Jets in Week 1. In particular, the team’s offense was effective — scoring the Steelers’ most points in a season opener since 2016, not committing any turnovers and scoring on six of their 10 non-end-of-game possessions.

While the Steelers’ run game languished, averaging 2.6 net yards per rush with -0.146 EPA per play, the team’s passing attack found life. Pittsburgh generated eight explosive passes — its second-most since the start of last season — and 0.196 EPA per play.

Although Rodgers was only solid in his team debut — finishing with a 57.9 PFF passing grade with zero big-time throws and a turnover-worthy play on first review — his new supporting cast provided major assistance. Metcalf hauled in four of his seven targets for 83 yards and four first downs and three explosive gains, while Smith caught five passes for 15 yards and a touchdown to close the first half.

Altogether, 70.1% of Rodgers’ passing yards came after the catch, and his average depth of target sat at only 5.9 yards. Additionally, 65.6% of his pass attempts came short of the sticks, his highest since Week 11 of last season. It was clear that Smith’s goal was to leverage his playmakers’ post-catch abilities while mixing in well-designed completions, including on play-action boot plays.

Metcalf’s and Smith’s superficial box score numbers may not be astronomical, but the two offered significant improvement in one critical area: yards after the catch. Pittsburgh’s new duo combined for 96 yards after the catch, good for 10.67 yards after the catch per reception between the two of them. All told, the Steelers accrued 171 yards after the catch, their second-most in the last 22 contests.

One of Pittsburgh’s biggest offensive pitfalls last year was its inability to churn out extra yardage, as the team sat 24th in total yards after the catch. But with Metcalf and Smith now on the roster — and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith finding ways to get the ball in their hands — the team’s offensive ceiling is certainly higher.