New details emerge about brutal illness Steelers LB Patrick Queen played through in loss to Ravens

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen battled his way through Saturday’s 28-14 AFC Wild Card Round defeat to the Baltimore Ravens.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Queen played despite having a “really bad” bout with the flu. Queen received 4 IV bags before the game.

That didn’t stop Queen, who played the entire game. He recorded 10 tackles (four solo) and a tackle for loss. Queen was criticized for his effort — or lack thereof — on a handful of plays, particularly on Derrick Henry‘s 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Patrick Queen and Steelers’ defense collapse at end of 2024 season

It wasn’t just Queen who struggled against Baltimore. Just about every Steeler defender did, surrendering 299 yards on the ground to the league’s No. 1 rushing offense. There’s no other way to state it — Pittsburgh’s defense collapsed down the stretch.

The Steelers, once 10-3 with a stranglehold on the AFC North, dropped five consecutive games including the postseason to end the season. Their defense gave up 137 points throughout the skid for an average of 27.4 points per game. With an offense that failed to surpass 17 points in a single game over that stretch, it’s easy to figure out why the Steelers are moving onto 2025.

“I think we got just too comfortable,” Queen said after the game of the defensive drop-off. “We started chasing too many things. I think we just let off the pedal… that’s why we’re in the position we’re in.”

Queen, 25, is set to return next season, having signed a three-year, $41 million deal with the Steelers this past offseason. Coming off a Pro Bowl season with the Ravens, Queen led the Steelers with 129 tackles (65 solo), to go along with six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a sack and seven passes defended.

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