The Pittsburgh Steelers are heating up at just the right time. With back-to-back wins over the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins, they’ve surged back into the driver’s seat in the AFC North race. And while the offense has done its part, it’s the defense - and specifically the linebacker tandem of Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen - that’s been the engine behind this late-season surge.
Coming into the season, expectations for the Steelers’ defense were sky-high. On paper, they had the pieces to be one of the league’s most disruptive units.
But reality didn’t quite match the hype through much of the year - until now. Over the last two games, the defense has looked revitalized, and a big reason why is the chemistry developing between Wilson and Queen in the heart of the front seven.
Let’s start with Wilson. The second-year linebacker has taken a noticeable leap, and it’s not just about the tackles or splash plays - it’s how he’s reading the game, reacting faster, and playing with a confidence that comes from experience and trust in the guy next to you. That guy, of course, is Patrick Queen - a two-time Pro Bowler who’s brought both leadership and fire to this defense since arriving in Pittsburgh.
“He’s a great vet. One of the best linebackers in the game,” Wilson said Friday, speaking about Queen.
“I really just enjoy the way he plays the game, the way he runs around, the way he hits, how excited he is. It’s just the way you are supposed to play the game, and a lot of guys feed off that.”
That energy - the sideline-to-sideline speed, the physicality, the passion - it’s contagious. And it’s not just talk.
You can see it in the way this defense has clamped down in recent weeks. Queen sets the tone, Wilson follows suit, and suddenly this linebacker duo is looking like one of the most dynamic in the league.
Their timing couldn’t be better. With just a few weeks left in the regular season, every game carries playoff implications. And with a tough Week 16 matchup looming against a high-powered Detroit Lions offense, the Steelers will need Wilson and Queen to keep playing at this level - or better.
Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, and all eyes will be on how this Pittsburgh defense holds up against one of the NFC’s most balanced attacks. If Wilson and Queen continue to build on their growing chemistry, the Steelers might just have the defensive backbone they need to make a serious postseason run.