Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Patrick Queen. Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore players reflect on win over Steelers: ‘I feel like a Raven now’

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 12/12/22

Linebacker Roquan Smith has been a Baltimore Raven for five weeks, but he’ll tell you he didn’t officially earn that designation until Sunday.

Smith was among a handful of Ravens players who never beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. That was until Sunday’s 16-14 road win at Acrisure Stadium — a victory that not only snapped Baltimore’s four-game losing streak to its AFC North rivals but one that Smith and others stated cemented their status as Ravens.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh says ILB Roquan Smith spoke to the team after the game about "becoming a Raven" now that he (and the entire 2020 draft class) has finally beat the Steelers.#RavensFlock
— Melissa Y. Kim (@melissaykim) December 11, 2022

“It feels great,” defensive end Calais Campbell said. “I’ve been hearing all week, ‘You’re not a Raven until you beat the Steelers.’ That meant something to me. I take great pride in just being in this rivalry, being a part of this team, and seeing the guys that came before us, the old vets, seeing [Terrell Suggs’] video, seeing Ray Lewis talk, just seeing all the highlight tapes and the good videos to get us ready for this game. I was getting chills down my back; I wanted to be a part of this. I’m glad that I can now call myself a Raven.”

“Yeah, I feel like a Raven for sure,” linebacker Patrick Queen said, via SB Nation’s Kyle Barber. “I think that just solidified it but now like I just said, it’s time to move on to the next one and the next time we play them stack another one. My record’s still not where I want it to be [against] them.”

All three defenders played a key role in Baltimore’s win. Smith totaled six tackles, two passes defensed, a sack, a tackle for loss, and an interception, Queen added six tackles, a pass defensed, a QB hit, and an interception and Campbell contributed four tackles.

The Ravens and Steelers rematch in three weeks in Baltimore.

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