For Patrick Queen, this season was supposed to be about vindication. After leaving the Baltimore Ravens for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason, Queen declared he turned down more money elsewhere for the chance to “win right now” with the Black and Gold. The idea of joining a team he viewed as ready to compete for a Super Bowl was a gamble he fully embraced. Hello, irony.
Fast forward to Saturday night, and that gamble has backfired spectacularly. It’s one thing to send your rivals home in the playoffs, but it’s another to send them home with a verbal souvenir they won’t forget.
That’s exactly what Roquan Smith did after the Baltimore Ravens’ dominant 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The All-Pro linebacker didn’t just crush Pittsburgh’s postseason dreams; he made sure to twist the knife with a perfectly delivered one-liner aimed at his former teammate, Patrick Queen.
"I think I remember my guy 'PQ' [Patrick Queen] saying ... I think the last time we played them, it was a hat and T-shirt [game], but I guess he's got the T-shirt he has on," Smith told reporters after the game. "He'll be in Cabo or somewhere, but he's still my guy—much love."
Roquan Smith sound on Patrick Queen "going to Cabo somewhere" in the t-shirt he had on tonight. pic.twitter.com/0jKeQb8DPr
— Morgan Adsit (@MorganAdsit) January 12, 2025
For a rivalry that’s been in desperate need of spice, Smith just brought the heat. Queen left Baltimore this past offseason to chase a Super Bowl in Pittsburgh, a move that immediately made him public enemy number one in Ravens circles. If Saturday’s game was about settling scores, Smith and the Ravens went above and beyond.
Roquan Smith mercilessly roasts Patrick Queen after AFC Wild Card win
Queen’s decision to join Pittsburgh wasn’t about money; it was about competing for a championship and, presumably, a chance to make the Ravens regret letting him walk. Spoiler alert: it hasn’t exactly gone that way.
Queen’s “T-shirts and hats” comment earlier this season was supposed to signal a new chapter for him and the Steelers, but it’s only turned into the perfect punchline for Smith and the Ravens.
Baltimore didn’t just win on the field Saturday—they made it personal. The Ravens dominated in every phase of the game, with Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson running wild while the defense put on a clinic. When Smith delivered his postgame comment, it felt less like trash talk and more like a reminder of everything Queen left behind.
For years, the Ravens-Steelers rivalry lacked the fire that made it legendary. But Queen’s move to Pittsburgh and Smith’s knack for receipts have brought that edge back in full force. Queen left for the Ravens' biggest rival—he understood what he was doing. That’s a choice that comes with consequences, and Saturday night was Exhibit A.
Baltimore fans aren’t just enjoying this win—they’re savoring it. Watching Queen and the Steelers struggle while the Ravens thrive is the kind of poetic justice that makes rivalries like this one special. Queen could’ve gone anywhere else for money. Instead, he’s heading into the offseason with a T-shirt, a plane ticket, and a lot to think about.
It's a tale of two stories. Smith’s leadership has ensured the Ravens never missed a beat. Meanwhile, Queen’s tenure in Pittsburgh hasn’t exactly been the transformative experience he—or they—had hoped for.
So, as Smith and the Ravens continue their playoff run, Queen and the Steelers will be watching from home. Maybe even from Cabo—where the only thing they'll be competing for is pool chairs. Either way, Baltimore is focused on their next playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, while Queen is focused on which T-shirt matches his hat.