The Baltimore Ravens are staring down their biggest game of the season this Sunday - a Week 14 showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers that could very well decide the AFC North. Both teams are locked in at the top of the division, but Baltimore holds the edge thanks to a tiebreaker. That advantage, however, could vanish in a flash if the Ravens stumble at home.
This matchup isn’t just about playoff positioning - it’s about momentum, identity, and, for a few key players, redemption.
Let’s start with the Ravens. They’re still licking their wounds after a rough Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals, a game that exposed some cracks in what had been one of the league’s most complete teams.
But the Steelers aren’t exactly riding high either. Pittsburgh let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers in Week 13, falling to the Bills in a game that could’ve given them sole possession of first place.
Instead, they’re now trying to pick up the pieces - and that includes figuring out what’s going wrong on defense.
One player under the microscope? Former Raven and current Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen.
Queen’s move to Pittsburgh was one of the more talked-about signings of the offseason. The Steelers inked him to a three-year, $41 million deal, hoping to pair his athleticism with their hard-nosed defensive identity.
But so far, the results have been underwhelming. Queen’s play has lacked the consistency and impact that Pittsburgh was banking on - and some voices around the team aren’t shy about saying it.
One prominent Steelers radio personality didn’t hold back after Queen’s performance against Buffalo, suggesting that Queen’s success in Baltimore may have had more to do with who he was playing next to - namely, All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith - than his own individual talent. The implication? The Ravens may have dodged a bullet by letting him walk.
Queen’s numbers don’t help his case. According to Pro Football Focus, his overall grade sits at 46.6 - that’s 75th out of 86 qualifying linebackers. For a player expected to be a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s defense, that’s not getting it done.
It’s a tough look for a defense that prides itself on physicality and leadership. And it’s even tougher when you consider the Ravens’ side of the equation.
Baltimore didn’t have much cap flexibility last offseason. Big-money deals for Derrick Henry and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike meant tough decisions elsewhere.
Letting Queen and safety Geno Stone walk was part of that financial balancing act. But so far, the Ravens seem to have landed on their feet - especially at linebacker.
Roquan Smith continues to be the anchor of this defense, but the emergence of rookie Teddye Buchanan is a storyline worth watching. A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Buchanan has stepped into a starting role and is making the most of it. He’s had some growing pains, particularly in coverage, but his instincts and physicality in the run game have been impressive.
Buchanan earned Defensive Rookie of the Month honors in October and hasn’t slowed down since. He’s second on the team in tackles with 87 - just three behind Smith - and he’s tied for fourth in tackles for loss. That’s not just production; that’s impact.
It’s early, but the Ravens may have found their long-term linebacker pairing. Buchanan’s development alongside Smith is giving Baltimore the kind of defensive continuity that championship teams are built on.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are still searching for answers - and Queen is at the center of that search. At 6-6, Pittsburgh is right in the thick of the playoff hunt, but they’re also teetering on the edge of another middling season. For a franchise that defines itself by defense, that’s not where they want to be.
Sunday’s game isn’t just a battle for first place - it’s a litmus test for both teams. For the Ravens, it’s a chance to bounce back and solidify their grip on the division. For the Steelers, it’s an opportunity to prove they can still be the bullies of the AFC North.
And for Patrick Queen? It’s personal.