The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to take on the Baltimore Ravens for the second time during the 2024 season. Pittsburgh won the first matchup back in Week 11 by a score of 18-16, and Baltimore is looking for revenge with the playoffs right around the corner. There are a lot of playoff implications on the line going into the matchup. The Steelers have already clinched a playoff spot, but they have a chance to win the division on Saturday with a victory.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Patrick Queen puts on eye black ahead of a matchup with the Washington Commanders.
The Steelers are currently the third seed in the AFC, but they can still be seeded anywhere in the conference depending on how the rest of the season shakes out. Aside from the obvious playoff implications, there is also the added drama of Patrick Queen returning to Baltimore for the first time since leaving the team to join the Steelers during the 2024 offseason. There has been a lot of trash talk from his former teammates since he signed with Pittsburgh. Queen's former teammate, long snapper Nick Moore, recently went on The Ryan Ripken Show and he took a shot at the inside linebacker.
"We've got one of the best centers in the game," Moore said. "We've got one of the best left tackles in the game. We have a very dominant offensive line. These guys are going to be looking to set the tone for our team. And they're going to do that by moving people out of the way. And getting 22 the ball and letting him get downhill. And then we're going to find out who's the man. How big a boy is PQ when it's 22 and 6?"
Obviously the long snapper is referring to Queen and Ravens running back Derrick Henry by their jersey numbers, as stopping Henry will be a big part of Queen's job on Saturday. Queen and Moore both joined the Ravens in 2020, and they were teammates for the next four seasons. It is understandable that some players in Baltimore may have some animosity towards Queen, but it's not his fault that organization didn't offer him a fair deal.
Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen after forcing a huge fumble against the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.
Queen had the best season of his career in 2023 with the Ravens. He was even named an All-Pro. It became obvious that the Ravens wouldn't be able to afford to bring him back, and the Steelers targeted Queen in free agency. There is some hatred towards Queen from former teammates in Baltimore, but the linebacker also has a clear hatred for the Ravens after not being welcomed back to Baltimore with a new deal.
The linebacker has had an up and down first season in Pittsburgh, but he has had some great performances. His best game of the year came against his former team back in Week 11, which is a big reason the Steelers are leading the AFC North.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Patrick Queen stands during mandatory minicamp in 2024.
Steelers' Patrick Queen Looking To Have A Repeat Performance In Week 16
Pittsburgh's Week 11 win over Baltimore was very tense and tight throughout the entire contest. The Steelers escaped with a two-point victory, and Queen was a big reason for that. In the game, the linebacker recorded 10 total tackles, including a tackle for a loss, and a forced fumble. The timing of the fumble could not have been better.
The Steelers found themselves trailing by one-point with under a minute to go before halftime, and the Ravens had the ball and were trying to get down the field to put more points on the board. Lamar Jackson completed a pass to Isaiah Likely, and Queen came over and ripped the ball out -- and recovered it himself. It set the Steelers up to kick a field goal and take the lead before halftime, and it wound up being the difference in the game.
How do you think Queen will respond on Saturday? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
