"One man's trash is another man's treasure"
There’s something uniquely thrilling about divisional games, especially when it’s the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers facing off. Their Week 11 clash was no exception. Meeting for the 61st time on November 17, the Steelers emerged victorious with an 18-16 win, extending their all-time lead over the Ravens to 36-25.
This particular matchup had an intriguing twist: linebacker Patrick Queen faced his former team for the first time. Queen, who was originally drafted by Baltimore in 2020, signed a three-year, $41 million contract with Pittsburgh during the offseason.
“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said about Queen after the game on November 17. “I’m glad he’s on our team.”
Selected by the Ravens in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Queen spent the early years of his career in Baltimore. Despite earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2023, the Ravens chose not to offer him a contract extension.
Instead, Queen joined the Steelers, inking a lucrative three-year deal. Speaking to ESPN before the game, Queen reflected on his departure from Baltimore and his transition to Pittsburgh.
“I wasn’t wanted back,” Queen admitted. “I didn’t get the offer back, and it is definitely kind of upsetting being there for four years and the bond that you grow with your teammates and stuff. The first few months, you definitely go through those feelings.
“Now after playing games, you just go by and just want to win games. You want to win with your teammates, your new teammates; you want to bond with those guys. Everything that you do as far as the organization that you’re at now. I will have feelings. Obviously, anybody in my position would this week, so I’m just taking one day at a time, whatever happens, happens.”
Tomlin is clearly happy to have Queen on board, and from the looks of it, the feeling is mutual.
Baltimore got a front-row seat to see what they let slip away. Queen’s absence was even more glaring after linebacker Roquan Smith exited the game with a hamstring injury.
Although Queen took some time to adjust in Pittsburgh, he’s starting to show why the Steelers gave him the largest free-agent contract in franchise history this past offseason. His knowledge of AFC North football was on full display in this critical victory over his former team.
Queen faced criticism from fans early in the season as he worked to find his footing with the Steelers’ defense. But now, he’s looking more like the All-Pro linebacker from 2023. His impact was evident against the Ravens, and his standout performance included seven tackles and two tackles for loss in the Week 10 win over Washington.
If Queen keeps up this level of play, the Steelers’ potential for the 2024 season will only increase. His presence has been pivotal for the defense, and as one of the leaders wearing the green dot, he has become an indispensable part of the team’s success.
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