Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are heading to the AFC Championship Sport, however a pair of blunders by Baltimore Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews helped them safe a 27-25 win on Sunday.
Andrews lost a fumble in the midst of the fourth quarter after making a reception because the Ravens drove down the sphere to attempt to take the lead. On the following possession, Andrews dropped the game-tying two-point conversion with 1:33 remaining, which in the end sealed the Ravens’ loss.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh instantly got here to Andrews’ protection after his essential errors performed a big position of their loss.
“There’s no one that has extra coronary heart and cares extra and fights greater than Mark. We wouldn’t be right here with out Mark Andrews,” Harbaugh instructed reporters following the loss. “That is what you say to him.
“It is like anything. Future is a call that you just make. The choice is the way you deal with what is available in your life, and Mark will deal with it improbable like he at all times does, as a result of he’s a high-character particular person, he’s a troublesome particular person and he’s an excellent particular person. I’m happy with him identical to I’m happy with all the blokes.”
Andrews was an enormous a part of the Ravens’ offensive success this 12 months, serving to them lead the league in yards whereas boosting Lamar Jackson’s MVP case. The three-time Professional Bowler had 55 receptions for 673 yards and a team-high 11 landing catches in the course of the common season.
Andrews additionally led the Ravens in receptions in Sunday’s sport, recording 5 catches for 61 yards. His penultimate reception acquired the Ravens into Payments territory, making a 16-yard acquire as Baltimore trailed Buffalo, 24-19. However as he tried to get past the Buffalo 44-yard line, Andrews did not maintain the ball in a safe place, permitting Payments security Terrel Bernard to punch it out and get well it. It was solely the second misplaced fumble of Andrews’ profession.
Nonetheless, as Andrews accounted for a good quantity of Baltimore’s manufacturing, his Ravens teammates got here to his protection.
“One play doesn’t outline anyone. He’s the all-time main landing receiver in Ravens historical past,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “He is been a constant beacon of success the entire time he is been right here, and for anyone to take something away from him and his work ethic, I believe it is simply unfair.”
Offensive deal with Ronnie Stanley known as Andrews a “warrior,” sharing with reporters that he instructed the tight finish that he liked him and that he can come from what occurred in Sunday’s loss. Jackson stated he instructed Andrews that “we’re a staff” after his drop on the two-point conversion.
“I am simply as damage as Mark. I do not [think it’s] his fault,” Jackson instructed reporters. “Like, all of us performed an element within the sport. It is a staff effort. Simply not gonna put that on Mark, bro, as a result of he is been battling all season. He been doing all the nice issues he is been doing all season. It do not at all times go our manner. We wished to however on the mistaken time it’s prefer it’s not going our manner. We have to determine that out.”
Andrews’ miscues got here on the most pivotal moments in Sunday’s sport, however they have been removed from the one ones Baltimore made. Jackson threw an unforced interception within the first quarter and misplaced a fumble that arrange a Payments rating within the second quarter. As a staff, the Ravens dedicated 4 extra penalties than the Payments.
These turnovers and penalties have been simply a part of the explanation why the Ravens misplaced to the Payments regardless of outgaining them (416 to 273) and changing on 7 of 10 third-down alternatives. As Andrews did not converse with reporters after the sport, Jackson was particularly harsh on himself for his errors in Sunday’s loss, wherein he accomplished 18 of 25 passes for 254 yards to go along with 39 speeding yards.
“Turnovers. We won’t have that s—,” Jackson stated. ” That is why we misplaced the sport. As you may see, we have been transferring the ball splendidly. Simply maintain onto the f—ing ball. I am sorry for my language. This s— is annoying. I am bored with this s—.”
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