ExtremeRavens Posted December 17, 2024 Posted December 17, 2024 Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen expects a hostile crowd in his return to M&T Bank Stadium. Queen, who began his career in Baltimore and played for the Ravens from 2020 through 2023, will play in M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday for the first time as a visiting member. “I’m probably going to get a lot of FUs and boos and stuff, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t want [it] any other way,” Queen told reporters Tuesday. “That’s football, that’s competition.” Earlier this season, Queen starred in a Steelers victory over the Ravens. The linebacker posted 10 tackles and forced a key fumble in an 18-16 win on Nov. 17. The Pittsburgh triumph is currently the difference in the AFC North, with the Ravens (9-5) entering Saturday’s home contest one game back of the AFC-North leading Steelers (10-4). READER POLL: Who will win Saturday’s AFC North showdown between Ravens and Steelers? After the November win, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin praised Queen while taking a shot at the Ravens’ decision not to re-sign the linebacker to play alongside Roquan Smith. Queen leads the Steelers with 109 tackles this season. “You know, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Tomlin told reporters after the November meeting. “I’m glad he is on our team.” While Queen says he expects boos this weekend from Baltimore fans, he mostly downplayed his role in Saturday’s rivalry game when meeting with the media Tuesday. Queen instead spoke about the importance of the game, which would give the Steelers the AFC North title if they come away with the road win. “I’m all for the rivalry, but I’m over the ‘my old team’ stuff,” Queen said. Pittsburgh’s new linebacker spoke highly of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is enjoying perhaps the best year of his career. Jackson is averaging a career-best 8.9 yards per pass attempt, throwing for 34 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. He’s also added 743 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Jackson ranks second to Buffalo’s Josh Allen in QBR, and only Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow (36) has more passing touchdowns this season. If Allen wasn’t having such a strong season for the 11-3 Bills, Jackson would likely be the favorite to win his third career MVP Award. Queen called Jackson “the most dangerous guy in the NFL,” although the Steelers did well to slow him in their first meeting. Jackson completed just 16 of his 33 passes in the Nov. 17 meeting between the division foes, throwing for 207 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His passer rating of 66.1 against Pittsburgh is the lowest of the season. Jackson has thrown nine touchdowns and zero interceptions in the three games since, hitting his stride as the season hits its final stretch. Perhaps Jackson’s late-season surge is why Queen is more focused on stopping Baltimore’s quarterback than the insults he expects Ravens fans to hurl his way in a few days. “He’s a great player,” Queen said, “the best in the world, honestly.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article Quote
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