New Steelers LB Patrick Queen Is Ready To Face His Old OC In Week 3: "He's Gonna See If He Can Test You"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a better start than many expected after beating both the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos. They currently sit atop the AFC North at 2-0. However, their season will only get more challenging as it progresses. They face their biggest test yet in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers in their home opener at Acrisure Stadium. 

Head Coach Mike Tomlin will battle the other Harbaugh brother than the one he is used to: Jim Harbaugh, the new coach of the Chargers, instead of his longtime nemesis John Harbaugh, the coach of the Baltimore Ravens (and Jim's older brother). But there is another connection: new Steelers inside linebacker Patrick Queen will once again be lining up across from a group led by his former Offensive Coordinator, Greg Roman.

Roman was the offensive coordinator for the Ravens during the first three years of Queen's career. As the Black and Gold prepare for this upcoming challenge, Queen told the media that he is only too familiar with Roman and how he calls plays; therefore, he expects a physical game. 

"I faced it for three years," said Queen. "Every day in practice. Smashmouth football, that January-type football. He's gonna see if he can test you, test you in your will and that's what we gotta go out there and try to stop it. It's gonna be smashmouth football. It's gonna be your man versus our man. I can't wait."

This will likely be a more defensive battle than the other games the Steelers have played this season. The Steelers' defense has held pat, allowing only 16 points in two games total. They managed to hold the Broncos to a mere six points. The only team that has allowed fewer points through its first two games is the Chargers, with 13. 

The Steelers and the Chargers are two of the nine teams in the league that remain undefeated, and they are also two of the best defenses in the NFL. They both feature offenses, the Chargers under Roman and the Steelers under new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, that are more likely to run the ball than pass. This should lead to the smashmouth football Queen in predicting. 

Pittsburgh is favored by 2.5 points, but they cannot afford to get complacent. It appears that Justin Fields will once again be the starting quarterback for the Steelers, and Smith will need to loosen the leash on him a bit if they are going to get past the Chargers' stingy defense. Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert has been battling an ankle injury, but Harbaugh expects him to play. Herbert is a talented young quarterback who can pick up yards with his arm and his legs. 

Steelers And The City Of Pittsburgh Have Earned Jim Harbaugh's Respect

During his regular weekly press conference, Harbaugh expressed his great respect for the city of Pittsburgh and its fans. He said the whole city has an "aura" and that they create a lot of football greats. He told the media that he has the utmost respect for Ben Herbert, a Pittsburgh native and currently the Chargers' Executive Director of Player Performance. He said that the fans' love for their team is genuine, real, and unique, and he has nothing but respect for them. 

He also said that he has been familiar with the Steelers for a long time. Harbaugh was an NFL quarterback for 14 years with the Ravens, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, and Carolina Panthers. He has bounced between college and the NFL as a coach, including the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders. 

Tone Digs from The Pat McAfee Show got a kick out of Harbaugh's comments. As a lifelong Steelers fan, Digs said that maybe Harbaugh hopes to get booed a little less on Sunday.  

How do you think the Steelers will fare against the Chargers this weekend? Click to comment below. 

#SteelerNation