Steelers' Patrick Queen Confident This Playoff Run Will Be Very Different

Pittsburgh Steelers' long-time head coach, Mike Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. All eyes are on him as he looks to end that drought with a big playoff win at home against the Houston Texans on Monday night. For a coach widely respected around the league for his consistency and leadership, the lack of postseason success has become a talking point that grows louder with each passing year.

The Steelers' head coach almost saw the fan base crucify him for another time in the 2025 season when he nearly lost the AFC North title. Luckily, fate was in favor of the Steelers, as they snuck by the Baltimore Ravens to secure the division and earn a home playoff game. That late-season surge helped shift the narrative, giving Pittsburgh renewed momentum and confidence heading into the postseason.

Steelers outside linebacker Patrick Queen spoke on the Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show on Friday, where he detailed how confident he is in this group to make a deep playoff run. Queen emphasized the team’s chemistry, preparation, and belief in Tomlin’s leadership, noting that the locker room remains focused on the opportunity in front of them. With a hostile home crowd behind them, the Steelers believe this could be the moment that finally ends their playoff drought.

"Just from a defense-speaking wise, we got playmakers at every single position," Queen said while speaking on the show on Friday. "We got confidence in every single guy. And then we got confidence in the play-calls no matter what, it's because we know we got each other's back. We know we can go out there and execute and do it at a high level, but that's the thing, we gotta execute."

There’s been a lot of talk about this defense. When the 2025 offseason was underway and the Steelers were adding veteran talent such as Jalen Ramsey, many expected the unit to be one of the best in the league. However, it took some time for the pieces to come together and for the defense to find its rhythm.

Now that the playoffs are here, many believe the Steelers' defense is peaking at exactly the right time. The group has shown improved communication, consistency, and playmaking ability in recent weeks, all of which could be crucial in a high-stakes postseason matchup.

Queen also expressed confidence in the game plan of controversial Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, as well as in Tomlin’s overall leadership. He noted that the coaching staff has the defense prepared and focused, reinforcing the belief that this unit is ready to rise to the moment when it matters most.

"We know the execution wasn't there on our part mostly there at the last game, and we could be better with that and everybody understands that, and knows that," Queen said. 

Queen knows the Steelers were blown out in last year’s Wild Card contest against their division rivals, the Ravens. This time around, they were able to deny Baltimore a spot in the playoffs while punching their own ticket, earning the right to wear the hats and T-shirts as AFC North champions.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Knows He Must Win A Playoff Game Now

However, all of that will mean nothing if Tomlin and this defense don’t come out ready to slow down the Texans’ red-hot offense, led by quarterback CJ Stroud and star wide receiver Nico Collins. 

With postseason stakes at their highest, Pittsburgh’s ability to learn from past failures and rise to the challenge will ultimately determine how far this team can go. It certainly helps that TJ Watt is back and gaining momentum, along with Cam Heyward continuing to play at an All-Pro level this late into his career. With all of that being said, Tomlin is well aware that nothing matters unless he beats the Texans on Monday night.

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