Mark Andrews Reveals 2-Word Reaction to Playoff Drop for Ravens

It’s taken a few days, but Mark Andrews has finally spoken out about the critical drop that condemned the Baltimore Ravens to defeat in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

All-Pro tight end Andrews couldn’t reel in what would have been a game-tying two-point conversion with less than two minutes remaining against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, January 19. His drop allowed the Bills to preserve a 27-25 win that ended the Ravens season.

The impact of his mistake has left Andrews “absolutely gutted.” He expressed the regretful sentiment in a message on Instagram posted on Thursday, January 23 (h/t Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic): “Im devastated for my teammates, my coaches and Ravens fans.”

Andrews also explained why the scale of his devastation made it difficult for him to speak up sooner: “I pour every ounce of my being into playing at the highest level possible, because I love my team and the game of football like nothing else. That is why it’s taken me until now to collect my thoughts and address this publicly.

Despite his regrets, the 29-year-old promised that “even though the shock and disappointment are unlike anything I’ve felt before, I refuse to let the situation define me. I promise that this adversity will only make me stronger and fuel us as we move forward.”

Finally, Andrews gave thanks for the messages of support he’s received. He made particular reference to the Bills fans who donated to his charity raising awareness about Type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition Andrews suffers from: “Despite the negativity, I’ve seen heartfelt love and encouragement, including from those who have generously donated to the Breakthrough T1D organization.”

Andrews and the Ravens using the setback in Buffalo as motivation makes sense, but it won’t be easy to forget an error that wasted a great opportunity to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2012 season.

---

Mark Andrews Has Track Record to Recover from Drop

Amid the significance of perhaps the worst game of his career, it shouldn’t be forgotten Andrews has been one of the most prolific tight ends of his generation. He caught 64 passes in 2019 to help quarterback Lamar Jackson win his first NFL MVP award.

Andrews became an All-Pro two years later after snagging 107 catches. Those receptions cemented his status as Jackson’s favorite target.

That connection appeared strained earlier this season, when Andrews struggled for targets. Fortunately, No. 89 played his way back into the mix and proved lethal inside the red zone, scoring 11 times from inside the 20 to become the Ravens’ all-time leader in touchdown receptions with this catch against the New York Giants in Week 15.

Andrews remains a key part of an offense that led the league in yards this season. That won’t change, but the Ravens need to find a way to overcome the mistakes wrecking too many attempts to win titles.

---

Ravens Season Bookended by Similar Mistakes

Eliminating the self-destructive tendencies they’ve displayed in too many big games in recent years should be the priority for the Ravens. The 2024 season is the perfect example, with the campaign beginning and ending with a critical error in the end zone by a tight end.

It was Andrews’ understudy Isaiah Likely who couldn’t keep his feet in bounds against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. Andrews had his own infamous moment 19 weeks later, per Ravens Vault co-host Sarah Ellison.

Individual errors littered the performance against the Bills. Including Andrews losing a fumble in the third quarter, while Jackson also fumbled and threw an interception. These issues with ball security were a far cry from the regular season, when Jackson tossed just four picks.

Translating what works from Weeks 1-18 to the playoffs continues to be a problem for the Ravens. One that’s even impacted a veteran usually as dependable as Andrews.

His gaffe is proof it’s not an issue of inexperience, but more a mental hurdle for the Ravens to overcome.

0 Comments