PITTSBURGH (AP) — Russell Wilson sat at the podium, uniform still on, in no hurry to move on from a moment he always thought would come.

Even as the weeks passed and his sore calf struggled to get better. Even when Justin Fields deftly led the Pittsburgh Steelers in his place. Even as the outside noise of a potential quarterback controversy seemed to grow louder.

Faith is a big thing for 35-year-old Wilson. He believed he would get a chance to reset his career in Pittsburgh. And while the start may have come a little later than he would have liked, Wilson offered proof he’s not close to the finish line during a 37-15 win over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on Sunday night.

Wilson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score. He completed 16 of 29 passes for 264 yards, shaking off some early rust and ignoring the boos and short chants for Fields as the offense sputtered in the first half. An 11-yard lob to George Pickens for a touchdown late in the first half allowed Wilson to exhale.

“I was like, ‘There’s going to be a lot more, I believe,’” Wilson said.

While there were no more scores for Pickens, there was a 1-yard touchdown run on a sneak in the third quarter and a 4-yard flip to Van Jefferson in the fourth as Pittsburgh (5-2) consecutively topped 30 points obtained. weeks for the first time since the start of the 2020 season.

“We’re right at the cusp of getting really good and being great,” Wilson said. “We have to keep looking for that edge, learning and studying and devoting the time to it.”

Although not quite in the “Let Russ Cook” era of his prime, Wilson looked more than capable in front of a capacity crowd that included Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Pittsburgh tacked on the final 31 points of the game after signaling a 15-6 lead to the Jets.

“We’re doing some good things and the reality is there’s so much more and we’ll get better as we go,” Wilson said. “We will continue to work, but we need to be in a good place where we are.”

The Jets (2-5), not so much.

New York’s retooled offense — which now includes Davante Adams, who reunited with Rodgers this week after being acquired in a trade with Las Vegas — couldn’t keep up with the Jets, dropping their fourth straight game and second under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.

“That game, especially that second half, that’s not who this team is,” Ulbrich said. “That’s not good enough and it starts with me and the coaching staff and goes down to every player on this team. We can all give more and we will give more.”

New York will have to do that if it wants to get back into contention in the AFC East. Rodgers passed for 276 yards with a touchdown and connected with Adams three times for 30 yards, but also had two passes intercepted by rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop and the Steelers turned those into game-turning scores.

The Jets led by nine and had a chance to extend their lead in the first half when Bishop stepped in front of Rodgers’ pass intended for Garrett Wilson at midfield for his first career interception. Picken’s first touchdown of the season soon followed.

Chris Boswell scored the third of three field goals midway through the third quarter to give the Steelers the lead when Bishop struck again.

Rodgers tried to hit Garrett Wilson down the left sideline on New York’s next possession, but the ball bounced off Wilson and into Bishop’s hands. Bishop raced to the Jets 1 and only failed to score because a sprinting Adams chased him down just short of the goal line.

No matter, Wilson muscled his way into the end zone on the next play. A scoring throw to Jefferson early in the fourth gave the Steelers the kind of breathing room that has been rare in recent seasons for a team that has played more one-goal games than anyone since the start of 2021.

Tomlin raised some eyebrows earlier this week when he opted to turn to Wilson instead of Fields, who had racked up 10 touchdowns (five passing, five rushing) against just one turnover in six starts. Tomlin’s reasoning was simple: The Steelers had been good, but “not to be confused with great.”

When asked afterward how challenging it was to give the starting job to Wilson despite Fields’ play, Tomlin smiled.

“That’s why I’m well compensated,” the NFL’s longest-tenured coach said before walking away.

Injuries

Jets: G Xavier Newman was carted off with a neck injury after being blocked on Bishop’s interception return early in the second half. He was taken to hospital for observation. X-rays were negative and Newman was able to fly with the team. … G Alijah Vera-Tucker injured an ankle in the second quarter and did not return. …S Tony Adams left with a hamstring injury. … S Ashtyn Davis was evaluated for a concussion.

Steelers: DT Montravius ​​Adams left the first half with a knee injury. …CB Donte Jackson left in the first half with a shoulder injury.

Next

Jets: Next Sunday at New England.

Steelers: Host the New York Giants on Monday, October 28.

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