Sometimes, a single matchup on Sunday can alter who wins and loses. The New York Jets know this well.

When the Jets take the field to kick off the Aaron Glenn era against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team knows how vital specific battles will be to pulling off an upset.

Pittsburgh is coming off a year in which it reached the playoffs but failed to advance past the first round. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in almost a decade and went all-in on the Aaron Rodgers experiment following his departure from New York.

Placing the Aaron Rodgers narrative aside

Outside of the craze surrounding Rodgers’ return to New York, plenty of matchups will help decide the outcome on Sunday. Today, we’ll break down the top three the New York Jets need to win (or at least strategize for) to have a chance at a Week 1 victory.

If the Jets run the football effectively, play good defense, and avoid turnovers, they could win Glenn’s debut this week.

However, several one-on-one matchups could also help decide the contest within those baseline keys to the game. From battles in the trenches to Pro Bowl players squaring off, Sunday’s showdown at MetLife Stadium should be fun.

T.J. Watt vs. Armand Membou

This matchup will likely decide Sunday’s game. T.J. Watt is one of the best defensive players in the league. Armand Membou, selected seventh overall in the 2025 NFL draft, is making his Jets debut.

In fairness to the rookie, this matchup should be a bloodbath for Pittsburgh.

If Membou can hold his own to an acceptable degree, the Jets will have a great chance to pull off the upset. Running the ball and forcing Watt to play the run gives the Missouri product a solid chance to keep the matchup level.

It’s still a tall order.

If Membou struggles, Jets fans need to understand this isn’t a microcosm of how the rookie will perform throughout his career. Any positive plays, however, could validate the Jets’ decision in April’s draft.

If New York wins on Sunday, it’ll be because Membou did just enough to keep Watt at bay.

Garrett Wilson vs. Steelers corners

Like the Jets, the Steelers have a collection of capable cornerbacks to throw at Garrett Wilson. Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, and even Jalen Ramsey could all line up against New York’s top wideout.

This is a matchup Wilson needs to win.

The Jets do not currently have a reliable second receiving option, so the passing game will revolve around whether the team can scheme Wilson open and whether he can capitalize on each opportunity.

Whatever the case, this matchup is critical.

Sauce Gardner vs. DK Metcalf

In a 26–21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last year, the Jets saw what a matchup could look like between their All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner and Pro Bowl receiver DK Metcalf.

Metcalf caught four passes for 66 yards against Gardner in that win. Now, as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the big-bodied wideout will open the season with another battle against New York’s top corner.

Gardner is coming off a down year in 2024, but there’s reason for optimism that he’ll return to elite form with Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks as his coaches. At the very least, this should be one of the most entertaining matchups we’ll see on Sunday.