The Pittsburgh Steelers are finding their footing at the perfect time, as they have rattled off back-to-back wins over the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins to retake control of the AFC North division. A big reason for the sudden turnaround has been the play of the defense, which has seen Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen emerge as a top-tier duo at the heart of their operation.
Entering the year, the Steelers’ defense was expected to be one of the top units in the league, but that hasn’t been how things have played out. They have looked better over the past two games, though, thanks to some big games from Wilson and Queen. Working with Queen has been great for the second-year star Wilson, and he’s clearly enjoyed playing alongside the two-time Pro Bowler.
“He’s a great vet. One of the best linebackers in the game,” Wilson said of Queen on Friday when speaking to reporters. “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.”
The more comfortable Wilson and Queen become playing together, the better the results will be for Pittsburgh’s defense. The Steelers will need both of these guys to be at their best in Week 16, as a difficult matchup against the Detroit Lions awaits them, with kickoff being scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
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