For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching for steady play at off-ball linebacker, and too often the position has been a problem instead of a strength. Since the Ryan Shazier and Vince Williams days in 2017, the team has had a hard time finding linebackers who could hold up without becoming liabilities.
In Week 7, though, Pittsburgh got something it has been waiting on for a long time: a real difference-making performance from Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen at the same time.
Against the New Orleans Saints in Paris, the pair looked locked in together and gave a preview of what the Steelers’ defense can be when those two are humming. It was the kind of outing that stood out immediately.
Wilson, in particular, looked like he was everywhere. He had already been flashing downhill speed all season, but the missed tackles and coverage mistakes had still shown up too often.
Against the Saints, those issues mostly disappeared. He finished with a pair of run stops at the line of scrimmage, attacked the football with ridiculous burst, and in coverage allowed just 27 yards on five targets.
His signature moment came with a diving interception in the red zone, followed by an 18-yard return after he got back to his feet.
Queen turned in a strong game of his own, and maybe even a statement one. It was his first truly good performance since the New England Patriots game, and that mattered after three straight rough outings against the Browns, Colts, and Buccaneers. Questions had started to creep in about his effort, but he answered them in Week 7.
The veteran linebacker piled up 10 total tackles, added a pass breakup and a sack, and put together one of the best coverage games of his career. He was charged with only 12 receiving yards allowed on two targets.
The numbers backed up what showed up on the field. Pro Football Focus gave Wilson an 89.8 overall grade and Queen an 84.5 overall grade [$], the highest-graded combined performance the two have posted in Steelers uniforms.
Their play changed the shape of the game. Pittsburgh’s run defense smothered New Orleans, holding the Saints to 18 yards on 17 carries. Tyler Shough had better moments through the air, but most of that damage came against defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Jamel Dean, with safety DeShon Elliott also allowing a 24-yard completion in limited action.
By the end of the day, the Saints had only three rushing first downs, averaged 4.9 yards per play, finished with 281 total yards, and managed just 10 points.
Wilson and Queen were two of the Steelers’ best players in Week 7, plain and simple. Their athletic ability has never been the question. If they can keep stacking games like this, Pittsburgh’s defense may be ready for another gear in the second half of the season.
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