How to Watch Jets vs. Steelers: Time, TV Channel and Live Stream for 2025 Week 1

How to watch Jets vs. Steelers

The NFL’s first Sunday of 2025 drops a classic AFC matchup right into the early window: Pittsburgh at New York, 1:00 PM ET, live from MetLife Stadium. CBS has the broadcast, and subscribers can stream through the network’s digital platforms. If you’re sorting out where to watch and whether you’re in-market, here’s the quick guide.

• Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025
• Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET
• Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
• Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
• TV: CBS (check your local CBS affiliate)
• Streaming: CBS digital platforms for subscribers; most live TV streaming services that carry local CBS in your market also work
• Out-of-market: NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube/YouTube TV
• Mobile/tablet (in-market): NFL+ offers live local and primetime games on phones and tablets
• Audio: Team radio networks and the NFL app provide live audio in participating markets

The easiest way to get a Jets vs. Steelers live stream is through CBS’s digital apps in markets where the game is available. If you’re traveling or living away from your home city, Sunday Ticket covers out-of-market regular-season Sunday afternoon games. An indoor antenna is still a simple backup for over-the-air CBS if you’re within range.

Local carriage rules still matter. Your CBS affiliate controls which early game it shows in your area, and certain markets could carry a different 1 p.m. matchup. If you don’t see Jets–Steelers in your guide, you’re likely outside the distribution footprint. Double-check your listings or switch to Sunday Ticket if you’re out of market. Some broadcasts also offer Spanish audio via SAP; look for that option in your TV settings.

Pre-game coverage ramps up Sunday morning across network studio shows. Inactives post about 90 minutes before kickoff, so if you’re juggling fantasy decisions, plan to check statuses at roughly 11:30 AM ET.

What to expect on the field

Both teams walk in with October-level stakes, even though it’s Week 1. The Steelers wrapped a 2–1 preseason with wins over Jacksonville and Carolina and a loss to Tampa Bay, which at least gave Mike Tomlin a look at his depth pieces up front and on special teams. The Jets get the benefit of home crowd noise and an early chance to show they’ve tightened the screws on offense.

Start with the trenches. Pittsburgh’s relentless edge rush, headlined by T.J. Watt, will test a Jets line that has been under a microscope the past few seasons. New York’s pass protection is the single biggest swing factor in how this game looks. If the Jets win on first down and stay out of third-and-long, they keep Pittsburgh’s rush packages honest. If not, the Steelers can pin their ears back and hunt.

Flip it around and the Jets’ interior punch, led by All-Pro disruptor Quinnen Williams, is tailor-made to wreck timing. Pittsburgh’s plan will lean on quick game concepts, chips, and a steady run mix to keep Williams and the interior twist game from setting up shop in the backfield. Field position matters here; short fields have decided recent Steelers grinders, and Tomlin’s teams rarely hand over free yards.

On offense, both sides likely start with efficiency over fireworks. Expect scripted, high-percentage throws early: slants, flats, and play-action shots off inside zone. For the Jets, success hinges on rhythm—snap to throw on time, marry the run to the pass, and avoid strip-sack moments against an opportunistic front. For Pittsburgh, keeping down-and-distance clean—four yards on first down, stay ahead of the sticks—will be the path to long drives and late-fourth-quarter leverage.

Special teams quietly loom large in openers. Coverage units are still settling, returners are fresh, and one misplayed punt can flip a quarter. Both staffs typically play it straight in Week 1, but watch for a surprise fourth-down decision around midfield if the analytics say go and the early punts have been shaky.

Recent history offers a small breadcrumb: the Jets snagged a 24–20 win in Pittsburgh in 2022, rallying late. The larger trend still favors the Steelers in the all-time series, but New York has shown it can grind out a result if the game turns into a fourth-quarter scramble. Whichever team avoids the back-breaking turnover likely walks off with a 1–0 start.

Two more things to keep in mind as you plan your Sunday: MetLife is open-air, so wind can affect kicks and deep balls even on clear days, and early-season officiating tends to emphasize illegal contact and defensive holding. Early free first downs for either offense could tilt the script.

Need a simple watch plan? If you’re in the New York or Pittsburgh TV footprint, use your local CBS station or the network’s streaming app. If you’re elsewhere, check Sunday Ticket. On the go, NFL+ gets you the local feed on your phone or tablet. And if you’re hosting a watch party, confirm your CBS access ahead of time—no one wants to troubleshoot a login at 12:59 ET.