The Pittsburgh Steelers have the biggest game of their season coming up in Week 16 as they will travel to Maryland to take on the Baltimore Ravens for the second time in 2024. There is always a ton of animosity between these two teams, but both sides will be extra motivated coming into this contest as the Steelers have a chance to clinch the AFC North with a victory. If the Steelers can find a way to win on Saturday, it would mean that Acrisure Stadium would be guaranteed to host at least one playoff game for the first time since the 2020 season.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Patrick Queen celebrates as he runs off of the field against the Washington Commanders in 2024.
Something that has added a little more fire to this rivalry throughout the 2024 season is the fact that Patrick Queen chose to sign with the Steelers during free agency. He spent the first four seasons of his career in Baltimore, and the inside linebacker was an All-Pro during the 2023 season. Baltimore declined Queen's fifth-year option prior to the 2023 season, and then didn't even extend him an offer before he tested free agency. Queen spoke to the media on Tuesday and spoke about what he expects in his return to Baltimore.
"I'm going to get a lot of 'f**k yous' and boos and stuff," Queen said. "At the end of the day, like I said, I wouldn't want it any other way. That's football. That's competition. That's a high level of competitiveness. I'm all for it."
This will be the second time that Queen will squaring off against his former team, but it is the first time he is returning to his former home. The linebacker should expect a lot of animosity from the crowd that used to cheer him on. Queen is certainly hated in Baltimore, even though the organization did not want him back. He decided to join the organization's biggest rival, who is currently in front of the Ravens in the division standings.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Patrick Queen puts on eye black ahead of a matchup with the Washington Commanders during the 2024 season.
Queen has struggled at times during his first season with the Steelers, but he has been improving as the season goes along. He actually had his best game against his former team back in Week 11 when the Steelers beat the Ravens 18-16. During that contest, Queen recorded 10 total tackles including a tackle for loss, while also forcing a fumble and recovering it himself.
The stat line was impressive for the linebacker, but what was even more impressive was the timing of the big plays made by Queen. The Steelers were trailing 7-6 with under a minute to go in the first half. Baltimore had the ball and decided to get greedy and go down the field to get into scoring position before halftime. Queen ripped the ball away from a ball carrier and recovered it himself in field goal range. The Steelers were then able to kick a field goal and take the lead going into halftime.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers' Patrick Queen forces a fumble on Ravens' Isaiah Likely in Week 11 of 2024.
Steelers Hoping To Get A Similar Performance Out Of Patrick Queen On Saturday
Pittsburgh's defense looked shaky during their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15. The unit will be looking to bounce back in Baltimore, and Queen is going to be relied upon to make another big play. In order to beat the highly-potent offense of the Ravens, the defense will have to force turnovers, which the group typically has a habit of doing against Baltimore.
If the Steelers can escape Baltimore with a win, they will have clinched the AFC North, and could perhaps be in a position to rest starters in Week 18 if the seeding is set and final in the AFC. This could be crucial for Pittsburgh as the team has been beat up throughout the regular season.
How do you think Queen will be treated in Baltimore? Let us know in the comments below!
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