Throughout the regular season, the Baltimore Ravens have been an offensive juggernaut. Behind a lethal backfield tandem of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have been able to pick apart opposing defenses with ease.
Alongside the ball carriers in Baltimore, a collection of reliable and productive pass catchers have lifted Jackson to a career-best season through the air. One of those pass catchers is Mark Andrews, who has been Jackson’s go-to playmaker for a number of years.
Andrews has been one of the league’s best tight end over his seven career seasons, making the Pro Bowl three times. He’s also been the Ravens’ leading receiver three times. When Baltimore has needed a big play through the air, Andrews has often had the answer.
On Sunday night in the divisional round against the Bills, Andrews did not have the answer. With the game on the line, Jackson went to Andrews once again, but he failed to convert.
Mark Andrews drop vs. Bills
With just over three minutes to play in the game, Jackson and the Baltimore offense took the field on their own 12-yard line. They trailed by eight points and would need a touchdown and a two-point conversion to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.
Jackson was unconscious on this drive, completely taking the game over. After hooking up with Andrews and Tylan Wallace for chunk plays, Jackson delivered a 24-yard strike to Isaiah Likely for a touchdown.
LAMAR TO LIKELY!
RAVENS WITHIN 2!
📺: #BALvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/j68lGOOHZv— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2025
The touchdown pass brought the Ravens within two points and needing a two-point conversion to have a hope of playing in overtime.
This was the biggest play of the season and offensive coordinator Todd Monken dug deep into the playbook to find a play that would pick up two yards. That play call had Andrews slipping into the flat to create an easy pitch and catch between him and Jackson.
The two-point conversion is no good 😳
📺: #BALvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/s1DAo0tdm1— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2025
Andrews couldn’t come down with the reception, marking his third drop of the season and first since Week 6. On the biggest stage, in the biggest moment, the oft-reliable Andrews couldn’t come through.
In Jackson’s postgame presser, he went to bat for his tight end. “I’m not going to put that on Mark… I feel just as bad as Mark does,” Jackson said.
Head coach John Harbaugh also defended Andrews after the game, emphasizing Andrews’ importance to the team.
John Harbaugh: “We wouldn’t be here without Mark Andrews.” pic.twitter.com/eD1QVQcnf0
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 20, 2025
Mark Andrews fumble vs. Bills
Andrews’ drop wasn’t his only miscue on Sunday evening. In the midst of Baltimore’s comeback efforts, Andrews had a costly turnover.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Ravens were driving while trailing by five points. After Derrick Henry was swallowed up on first down, Jackson dropped back to pass on 2nd-and-11. Andrews found a soft spot in the zone and Jackson hit his guy.
Andrews had space to work before running into Bills’ linebacker Terrel Bernard.
Terrel Bernard forces it.
Terrel Bernard recovers it.@BuffaloBills ball!📺: #BALvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/mAjj3dp0Ms— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2025
This perfectly executed “Peanut Punch” allowed the Bills to kick a field goal and extend their lead to eight points late in the fourth quarter. This field goal would force the Ravens to attempt the two-point conversion that Andrews would go on to drop.
