The opening week in the National Football League is always unique. But the Jets-Steelers clash Sunday at MetLife Stadium is the start of something historically new for a Jets club that will face an opponent that has claimed six Super Bowl titles and would like to see a return to past glory.

"It's an exciting time every year," said WR Garrett Wilson. "It's like Christmas starting. That first week of practice, it all comes together. It all feels a little different. The coaches have a little different look on their face. The players as well. I'm just excited. You know, obviously we got a great formidable opponent, and what else can you ask for?"

While Aaron Glenn will lead the Jets for the first time in regular-season play, Mike Tomlin is set to begin his 19th campaign with the Black & Gold. The Steelers have gone to the postseason 12 times under Tomlin while Glenn, a key figure in the Lions' recent turnaround under HC Dan Campbell, yearns to build the Jets into a team that can achieve sustainable success. In addition to the intriguing coaching matchup, Justin Fields (Jets) and Aaron Rodgers (Steelers) will start against the teams they played for last season.

Fields, who went 4-2 as a starter last season in Pittsburgh, is the only QB since 1950 to improve in completion percentage, INT percentage and passer rating in each of his first four NFL seasons.

"He's an athlete, but he's also been able to throw the ball and make some of those tough throws and things like that," said CB Sauce Gardner. "So, I've just been learning how confident he is. He's probably not going to do too much talking, but he's one of those guys where it's like, he'd rather be more humble than just be all caught up in the hype. So, it's always good to be around quarterbacks like that who are extremely humble, but when it comes time to get on that field – they can dominate."

Things Start to Change
Aaron Glenn and Jets GM Darren Mougey view Justin Fields, 26, as an ascending talent who continually improved throughout the summer.

"All through training camp, just understanding exactly who he is and what he likes when it comes to the passing game, when it comes to the running game – where does he want receivers to be in certain spots on the field to make sure that connection is on point? And here's the thing, we're also going to continue to learn as the season progresses," Glenn said. "These guys have had a number of practices out there in training camp, but once you get in games, things start to change a little bit."

The Jets want to be a physical, aggressive team under Glenn and they'll place an emphasis on the run game with Fields and a three-headed backfield featuring Breece Hall and second-year backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. But they've been handed some adversity early as RG Alijah Vera-Tucker (torn triceps) will miss the season and won't be available to help RT Armand Membou in the rookie's first pro start against edge T.J. Watt & Co.

Rodgers, who will become the sixth QB since 1950 to start for a new team at age 41 or older, picked up his play down the stretch for the Jets last season with 18 TDs and 4 INTs from Week 8-18.

"He's always been someone that really understands what the coordinator is thinking," Glenn said. "You can tell he does a lot of film study. Mentally, that never goes away. Physically, we all start to wane at some point as we get older. But I know at that position, when mentally you are on point, man, he makes it a challenge. On tape, you will continue to see that. When he was here, you see that. The thing that we have to do a really good job of is making sure we give different looks and make sure we try to make it as hard as we can on him because he's seen it all."

Adjust as the Game Goes On
Under Aaron Glenn, the Jets have emphasized physicality with the core principles of running, blocking and tackling in mind.

"It's a simple cliche; fundamentals and technique," said defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. "The first game of the year is always guys getting overly excited. You see sloppy play, you see a lot of missed tackles, those kinds of things. We can't abandon our fundamentals and technique, regardless of the call. So, playing with our weapons, eyes, hands, hips, and feet, being violent on the perimeter, which they're going to do a great job of trying to get there, whether it's toss, sweep, or a bubble screen, and just getting off blocks and making plays."

Jets newcomer Harrison Phillips, who will line up next to DT Quinnen Williams, said in-game adjustments will be critical.

"In Week 1, we don't really know is it going to be more of Rodgers' offense," Phillips said. "Is it more Arthur Smith? Is it what they did last year? Is it what they could do in the preseason? So there are a lot of things where it's also hey we've got a really talented team that plays really fast and we can just read our keys and go and so there's a little element of that. Again, you want to adjust as the game goes on and be a better version of yourself in the second half and in the fourth quarter."

We Are All Maturing
As the Jets get their start under Glenn, he will do everything he can to put them in position to win. But he also chose a former Steelers legend this week to remind people of the big picture and the road ahead.

"To me, it's always been, I learned this from Bill Cowher years ago, that sometimes you really don't know what your team is until you get four or five games down the road," Glenn said. "Listen, we are all maturing in that aspect of really understanding real true game action, who are we going to be as a football team? I'm paying close attention to that."