Five things we learned from Steelers 37, Jets 15:

1. Get defensive

Not surprisingly, headlines in the aftermath of the victory focused on quarterback Russell Wilson and his performance in the first start of the season.

Not only did Wilson shake off a slow start by passing for 264 yards and two touchdowns while running for another score, he also led the offense to 31 unanswered points. The 37 points scored represented a season high, and the Steelers topped 400 yards for the second time in four games and for the first time in a win this year.

Perhaps lost in the shuffle was another dominant second half display by the defense. Since giving up 14 points to the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter, including the lead touchdown in the waning seconds, the Steelers have returned to their stingy ways after halftime.

A week after limiting Vegas to a touchdown on six possessions in the second half, the Steelers shut out the Jets for the final 30 minutes. That happened during a four-full possession period leading up to the final play of the game when the Jets got the ball back with 30 seconds to play.

Through these nine non-touchdown possessions, the Steelers have blocked a punt and a field goal, gotten three takeaways and forced the opponent to turn the ball over twice on downs.

Since the start of the 2023 season, the Steelers have allowed 95 fourth-quarter points — or fewer than four per game — the fewest in the NFL.

2. Missing piece

While the switch to quarterbacks paid off for wide receiver George Pickens based on his five-catch, 111-yard, 1-touchdown performance, he wasn’t the only pass-catching threat to reap the benefits of Wilson’s Steelers debut.

Since training camp, Wilson has spoken glowingly about having such a formidable target in the 6-foot-4 Darnell Washington. Former offensive coordinator Matt Canada and his interim successors never found ways to heavily involve Washington in the offense.

That started to change this year under Arthur Smith’s watch. When Justin Fields started the first six games, Washington had multiple receptions in a game for the first time in his two-year career, and he caught his first NFL touchdown pass.

Yet it wasn’t until Wilson took control of the offense on Sunday night that Washington became a prime target. Wilson targeted Washington four times, and the result was four receptions for 36 yards – both representing career highs. Not bad considering Washington entered the game with six catches for 55 yards this season.

Wilson set the tone from the first drive when his first attempt was a 15-yard completion to Washington. Later in the half, they connected for an 18-yard completion.

3. Center of attention

Due to Zach Frazier’s ankle injury, the Steelers started their ninth member of the offensive line when Ryan McCollum stepped in at center. This is the most players the Steelers have drafted through Week 7 since 2011. By comparison, the Steelers had drafted 12 players combined over the previous two seasons.

As with the rest of the offense, it took some time to achieve the desired result. At halftime, the Steelers rushed for 41 yards and averaged 3.2 yards per carry. After the break, the Steelers totaled 108 rushing yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Moreover, the line did not give up a sack and Wilson was only able to be hit once in the second half. This came after he was sacked once and hit three more times in the first half.

4. Start-up

In a game where Chris Boswell made three more field goals, Dean Lowry blocked a field goal and Minkah Fitzpatrick blocked an extra point before being flagged for leverage, punter Corliss Waitman’s performance went largely unnoticed.

Waitman was called to punt four times in the first half, including three times on three-and-outs. Waitman dropped all four kicks inside the 20, but was credited with just three as the Jets got a four-yard return to take possession at the 21.

The Jets helped by making one muffed return and fumbling another out of bounds. Still, Waitman had a 51-yard punt that resulted in a fair catch on the 13. Late in the half, he had a punt knocked down on the Jets’ 7. This led to Aaron Rodgers’ fateful decision to throw a pass downfield. the middle of the field that Beanie Bishop grabbed with 1:15 left in the half to set up the Steelers’ first touchdown.

Waitman finished with a net average of 45 yards.

4. Make decisions

Two weeks after his snap count was called into question following the 20-17 loss to Dallas, Pickens played 54 of 68 snaps — a 79% rate eclipsed only by the five offensive linemen and Wilson. Those six players never left the field.

Van Jefferson played 42 snaps and Calvin Austin III played 34. Smith also continued to give plenty of playing time to his tight ends. Pat Freiermuth made 48 appearances, followed by Washington with 36 and MyCole Pruitt with 30. Connor Heyward recorded just 10.

On defense, TJ Watt played all but four 57 snaps, and Alex Highsmith marked his return from a groin injury by being on the field for 42 plays. While the Steelers used their nickel package for most of the game, slot corner Beanie Bishop played 47 snaps. Inside linebacker Payton Wilson, who typically plays passing downs, had 31 snaps. His playing time came at the expense of Elandon Roberts, who was on the field only 16 times. Wilson and Roberts had previously split the snaps almost evenly.