As Patrick Queen prepares to face his former team, the Baltimore Ravens, in a highly anticipated Week 11 matchup, the Steelers linebacker is ready to put his emotions aside and focus on the task at hand. With a career-best season under his belt and a new chapter in Pittsburgh, Queen is determined to help his team secure a crucial divisional win.

Embracing the Challenge: Queen's Mindset Ahead of the Showdown

Leaving the Past Behind

When Patrick Queen first saw the Steelers' 2024 schedule, his eyes immediately landed on the Week 11 clash against his former team, the Baltimore Ravens. After spending four seasons with the organization that drafted him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Queen now finds himself on the opposite side of one of the league's fiercest rivalries. However, the veteran linebacker has learned to compartmentalize his personal feelings and approach the game with a clear, professional mindset."You get over all that stuff and you just play football," Queen said. "You go out there each game and take it one game at a time and just play football." Despite the strong emotions that may linger, Queen is determined not to let them overshadow his focus on the task at hand. "I am not going to make it anything more than it is. I just want to help my team the best that I can."

Embracing the Rivalry

Queen's familiarity with the Ravens-Steelers rivalry gives him a unique perspective on the upcoming matchup. He understands the intensity and physicality that defines this longstanding feud, and he's ready to embrace the challenge."Two places that know how to play great football, physical football, bloody football," Queen described. "A whole lot of trash talk. A whole lot of hitting. That's basically it. It's not going to be a lot of trick stuff going on. It's going to be football plays. We are going to line up and see who lasts the longest."Queen's experience in the AFC North has prepared him for the intensity that will be on display at Acrisure Stadium. He knows that the practices, meetings, and game plan will all be elevated to a higher level as both teams strive to gain the upper hand in this divisional showdown.

Proving His Worth

After a standout 2023 season that earned him a second-team All-Pro selection and a Pro Bowl nod, Queen is eager to continue his upward trajectory with the Steelers. The decision by the Ravens to decline his fifth-year option, making him a free agent, was a source of disappointment, but it has only fueled Queen's determination to prove his worth."I am happy to be here," Queen said. "I wasn't offered to go back. I wasn't wanted back." While the initial sting of being let go by his former team was difficult, Queen has channeled that emotion into a renewed focus and drive to excel in his new environment.

Embracing the Steelers' Culture

Queen has quickly adapted to the Steelers' culture and is embracing the opportunity to be a key contributor in Pittsburgh's defense. He understands the importance of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry and is ready to play a pivotal role in the upcoming clash."Everybody understands their role in this rivalry," Queen said. "Practice is going to be more intense. Meetings are going to be more intense. Everybody is going to be locked in. Coaches are going to have the game plan and lay it down. The first thing they start off with is how physical it is in the AFC North and it comes down to these two teams winning the division."With his experience, talent, and unwavering determination, Queen is poised to make a significant impact in this highly anticipated matchup. As he prepares to face his former team, the Steelers' newest linebacker is ready to leave his mark on one of the NFL's most intense rivalries.