Ravens defend Andrews after costly miscues in playoff loss to Bills

Tight finish Mark Andrews will go down as one of many biggest offensive gamers within the historical past of the Baltimore Ravens, however a pair of pricey errors he made in Sunday’s 27-25 divisional-round loss on the Buffalo Payments could perpetually hang-out him if he by no means performs in a Tremendous Bowl. 

Following that defeat, Ravens gamers equivalent to quarterback Lamar Jackson have been fast to defend Andrews.

“I am simply as harm as Mark,” Jackson defined, as shared by Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “[It’s not] his fault. All of us performed a consider that recreation. It is a staff effort. We’re not going to put that on Mark as a result of he is been battling all season. He is been doing all the good issues he is been doing all season. It [doesn’t] all the time go our means. We wish it to, however for the time being in time, it isn’t going our means. We have to determine it out.”

Jackson wasn’t innocent relating to Sunday’s end result, as he tossed an avoidable first-quarter interception after which dedicated a fumble that resulted within the Payments scoring a landing in the course of the contest’s second body. 

With that mentioned, Baltimore trailed Buffalo by simply 5 factors with roughly 8:45 left in regulation when Andrews misplaced a fumble close to midfield whereas making an attempt to realize a number of extra yards after a catch. Jackson later related with tight finish Isaiah Probably for a 24-yard landing cross that introduced the guests to inside two factors with 1:33 remaining within the fourth quarter.

Baltimore subsequently dialed up what ought to’ve develop into a game-tying two-point conversion play. Nonetheless, Andrews dropped a cross that hit him within the abdomen.

The Ravens offense by no means once more touched the ball earlier than Buffalo ran the clock out. 

“There’s no person that has extra coronary heart and cares extra and fights greater than Mark,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh mentioned. “We would not be right here with out Mark Andrews. Future is a call that you just make and the way you deal with what is available in your life. Mark will deal with it implausible.”

ESPN stats present that Andrews led the Ravens for this previous common season with 11 landing catches. He was second on the staff with 55 receptions, third with 69 targets and third with 673 receiving yards. 

However, many will not keep in mind such stats whereas recalling Andrews’ efficiency at Highmark Stadium on Sunday. 

“I dropped a choose earlier within the 12 months,” Ravens security Kyle Hamilton mentioned whereas having Andrews’ again throughout postgame feedback, per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. “Individuals don’t activate each other. We go by way of a lot from fall camp to now. One play doesn’t outline anyone. [Andrews is] the all-time main landing receiver in Ravens historical past, so for anyone to say something about him, it’s a must to look within the mirror and actually consider your thought course of (given) what he’s carried out for this franchise, what he’ll do for this franchise sooner or later. He’s been a constant beacon of success the entire time he’s been right here, and for anyone to take something away from him and his work ethic, I feel it’s simply unfair.”

Such phrases of assist doubtless will not cease Andrews from reliving these pivotal moments from Sunday’s loss all through Baltimore’s offseason that is now underway.