Just as expected: In the words of Coach Mike Tomlin 'it wasn't perfect,' but when you defeat the Baltimore Ravens in a hard-fought AFC North matchup, technically, it's perfect.
The Steelers defeated the Ravens, 18-16, holding on in the last minute when Joey Porter took down Lamar Jackson on the two-point conversion, forcing him to throw it away.
"It was a tough, hard-fought game. It always is," said Tomlin. "We're just really appreciative of being in these games because we realize the growth associated with it when you get it done.
"So, I'm excited for the guys in that locker room. They're excited, and they should be. They made the necessary plays. Certainly, it wasn't perfect, but it's not going to be when it's highly competitive and you're playing good people."
The Ravens came into the game with the No. 1 offense in the NFL, as well as the league's best rushing attack. The defense held their ground, though, holding all-everything Derrick Henry to just 65 yards on 13 carries.
"I like the way our guys responded to the challenge," said Tomlin. "Particularly our defense. A lot was written and said about that offense coming into this game, and rightfully so. They have a lot of talent. They have a lot of weapons. They have good schematics.
"Our guys played hard and together. I'm appreciative of that.
"We did what we always do. You better play hard, fast, and together when you play this group and when you play Mr. (Lamar) Jackson. His talents are unique. Their schematics are unique.
"Forget the minutia of what it is you do. You better play hard, fast, and together or you have no shot. We always start there."
Linebacker Patrick Queen led the Steelers with 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. And it came against his former team.
"One man's trash is another man's treasure," said Tomlin. "I'm glad he is on our team."
Kicker Chris Boswell accounted for all of the Steelers points with six field goals, including three from beyond 50 yards.
And Tomlin wasn't surprised.
"I love Boz, and I'm tired of him getting player of the week," joked Tomlin. "He probably got player of the week again this week. He is deserving of it, but it reminds us of our warts. It reminds us of the work that we need to do. But no doubt I'm thankful that he's on our team."
The Steelers don't have a lot of time to enjoy the win, as they have a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game in Cleveland.
"We have a short week this week," said Tomlin. "We have another AFC North battle waiting on us. We respect that. We won't waste too much time patting ourselves on the back because that next challenge is right around the corner.
"But this is what we signed up for. This is what we live for. This is the ultimate competitor's league. We're swimming in these waters.
"It's good to get to know ourselves. It's good to smile in the face of adversity that the game and life presents, and come through the other side of it."
Staying the course: No matter how much film you watch leading into a game, the other team is always doing the same thing.
And sometimes, that means you are going to see looks you haven't seen before.
That was the case for the Steelers offense on Sunday, as the Ravens defense mixed some things up.
"We kind of got some of the looks that we expected," said receiver George Pickens. "A lot of them, I would probably say 65% of them, weren't the looks from film. A team is always going to try to switch it up and get your guys confused."
While the offense might not have been able to get the ball in the end zone, they were able to adjust to what the Ravens were throwing at them and make it work.
"They did a good job," said quarterback Russell Wilson. "We knew it was going to be a battle back and forth in this game. I knew it was going to be a tougher will in the end. That's just how these games are.
"It was huge for us to be able to respond. I think that we reacted and responded really well on certain things, especially as the game went on. We kind of started figuring out what they were trying to do, and I think we just stayed the course."
And when it comes to Steelers-Ravens, you have to stay the course. This was Wilson's first experience with the heated rivalry, and it turned out to be what he expected.
"Just the passion, just the winning," said Wilson, who is now 4-0 as a starter for the Steelers. "Winning is everything, just to be able to get a huge win, that was really big.
"I think obviously to play in front of our fans. Obviously, this is my first time (playing in a Steelers-Ravens game). It's such an honor to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. What a gift it is and to wear the black and gold and to be in front of our fans for the first time, obviously the amount of history.
"We knew this was going to be a game of a long battle throughout. We knew it was going to come down to the wire, and we were able to pull it out."
Wilson, who was 23 of 36 for 205 yards and an interception, was thankful for the job the defense did, holding the Ravens to just 16 points, and especially the big stop on the two-point conversion.
"Our defense was unbelievable," said Wilson. "Obviously, guys like T.J. (Watt), Cam (Heyward), Minkah (Fitzpatrick). I thought Payton Wilson's play was a heck of a play. DeShon Elliott has been playing so great for us.
"It was a great team effort. Obviously, for a guy like (Patrick) Queen to be able to step up and make big plays against a team he used to play for, I know that meant a lot for him as well."
The game was tight throughout, and Wilson knew the key for all three phases was to just stay the course, something that has led to their success the last few weeks.
"I think the biggest thing for us knowing it was going to come down to the wire is staying calm in the midst of it," said Wilson. "Staying calm in the midst of the storm of the game. I think we did a really good job of that as the fourth quarter went on and the games went on.
"We knew it was going to be a battle. It was kind of ugly at first, how physical the game was and penalties and this and that, and we just had to get rid of some of the penalties. We were putting ourselves in third and 15 and third and 20 too much. As the game came down to it, we were obviously able to get key first downs in key moments as well."
Making his presence known: When Patrick Queen first saw the Steelers 2024 schedule, the first thing he did was circle the Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
It would be Queen's first game against his former team, the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and he spent four seasons with.
Coach Mike Tomlin knew what it meant to Queen, naming him one of the game captains and sending him out for the coin toss.
"I just went out there and did what he told me to do," said Queen, who also got a game ball. "Just knowing what he said, I saw what he said, just knowing that. At the end of the day, the captain was chosen for a reason, but I definitely do respect and appreciate what he did for me."
Queen easily could have gone out on the field Sunday looking for revenge against the team that didn't even offer him the opportunity to come back.
Instead, he went out there laser focused on walking away with one thing.
A win.
And that was the case, and then some.
"I think at the beginning, I thought back then I would be a little more (ticked) off," said Queen. "I woke up this morning, and I didn't feel any anger. I just felt content with life and the game and just being where I'm supposed to be. God put me in this place for a reason. I was just heated at the situation that occurred.
"So, I just gave my faith to God and trusted Him that I was in the right place for a reason."
Queen led the Steelers with 10 tackles, adding a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
"You dream about plays, and some days they don't happen," said Queen. "Everybody today was you're going to get one. This was my dad's birthday too. He was like you've got to get me one.
"It's just crazy how things work out, though. Knowing I had to come out here and support my team and play as hard as I can for them and just do my job.
"But everything was how it was supposed to be. I have no anger or animosity towards them. It's just football."
A real connection: Receiver George Pickens continues to be the go-to guy for quarterback Russell Wilson and for good reason.
He just keeps making plays.
Pickens had eight receptions for 89 yards against the Ravens, including a 37-yard reception.
While the offense wasn't able to get the ball in the end zone, Pickens keyed on the way they were at least able to move it and put them in position for Chris Boswell to hit six field goals.
"I would probably say efficiency," said Pickens. "When the defense switches up the coverage and tries to confuse you, all you can do is play to the best of your ability.
"So, when we're efficient, there's nothing you can do to stop us."
Pickens said the connection him and Wilson have developed, especially when it comes to the deep ball, has been a key for them.
"It's been pretty good," said Pickens. "I'm doing my part winning, giving him space to where he can throw the ball and trying to make a play."
In typical Steelers-Ravens fashion, the game got chippy at times. It didn't come as a surprise to Pickens.
"A rivalry game, a very chippy game," said Pickens. "I would probably say just aggressiveness. It's a rivalry game, so something you expect."
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