Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen wants to win, not continuously come up short in the biggest games of his NFL career.

Queen and his Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 Sunday, but the countless mistakes made by his former team hints towards a lack of discipline Queen experienced long before his departure.  

Queen accepted a very bitter defeat versus the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship this past January. Sure, Queen did begin taking jabs at the city of Baltimore earlier this spring. Still, his underlying grief after a 13-4  regular season record and No. 1 AFC seed could not be tastefully conveyed.

Queen was emphatic for the Baltimore Ravens last season, playing under defensive coordinator Zachary Orr and alongside all-pro Roquan Smith in a situation that appeared to be the best thing that could have ever happened to him. However, Ravens’ fans continue to see mediocrity emerge, especially within the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens’ offense.

Of course, Queen was prepared to school his teammates on the Steelers’ defense about the play tendencies of Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Moreover, not only did Queen help the Steelers hold the Ravens to just two touchdowns, but he forced a huge fumble in the second quarter to stall a Ravens late first-half drive.

For Queen, things could’ve been so simple. Had the Ravens focused in last season, they may have retained Queen, won the Super Bowl, and taken a ride into glory. Instead, they’ll recalibrate and have to sober into the reality that they may have to clinch a playoff berth as a wild-card team this season. That is unless the Steelers tumble backward.