Baltimore Ravens тιԍнт end Mark Andrews has been the focus of intense scapegoating since failing to catch a two-point conversion pᴀss late in Sunday’s 27-25 playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
‘MARK ANDREWS WITH THE BIGGEST CHOKE IN NFL HISTORY!’ blogger and reporter John Frascella wrote on X, echoing a sentiment shared by many online critics.
The back-peddling Andrews was undefended near the pylon when Ravens QB Lamar Jackson sent a soft pᴀss in his direction. A catch would have tied the game at 27 with 1:33 to play, giving Baltimore a chance to advance to next week’s AFC Championship in Kansas City.
Instead, the stumbling Andrews fell backwards, and as he did so, lost control of the football. Baltimore failed to convert the onside kick and now the Bills are off to face the two-time defending-champion Chiefs on Sunday.
But for all the vitriol being aimed at Andrews in the wake of the loss, the three-time Pro Bowl selection is also getting some thoughtful support online. Jon Solomon, a former sports reporter who now serves as Community Impact Director for the Aspen Insтιтute’s Sports and Society program, put everything in perspective by reminding his followers of Andrews’ heroics aboard a Southwest Airlines flight last year.
‘As Mark Andrews becomes a meme and gets mocked for the worst day of his football life, let’s remember that he helped save a woman’s life,’ Solomon wrote on X while posting a link to an article about the incident. ‘Perspective is hard after brutal losses. But there is more to life than football.’
MARK ANDREWS WITH THE BIGGEST CHOKE IN NFL HISTORY!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/pt2Wx2yOjw
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) January 20, 2025
The back-peddling Andrews was undefended near the pylon when Ravens QB Lamar Jackson sent a soft pᴀss in his direction. A catch would have tied the game at 27
Instead, the stumbling Andrews fell backwards, and as he did so, lost control of the football
Andrews didn’t sulk on the field, but instead dutifully ran back to the sideline after the drop
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A year ago, Andrews famously intervened during a flight from Phoenix to Baltimore to heroically save a woman with low blood-sugar.
Andrew Springs, a Baltimore resident who was on the flight, explained the ordeal on X, writing that Andrews – a Type 1 Diabetic – offered his diabetic testing kit after a doctor and nurse struggled to find the woman’s pulse.
‘Her blood pressure was extremely low, and [she] required oxygen to breathe. It was genuinely scary,’ Springs wrote of the mid-flight medical emergency.
‘A man in the aisle seat popped up, ”Could it be her blood sugar? I have a diabetic testing kit.” It was @Ravens TE Mark Andrews.’
‘Andrews instructed the medical professionals (equal citizen heroes in this story) on using his test kit. Eventually her heart-rate stabilized.’
Springs later clarified that the woman, who was not named, was met by paramedics as soon as the Southwest plane reached its destination.
‘Andrew deplaned quietly. No fanfare. As he has done his whole career, he stepped up in a huge moment when people need him the most.
‘Watching complete strangers spring into action to help save someone’s life is truly amazing.’
To confirm the veracity of the event, the Ravens released a statement from Andrews, who applauded medics rushing to the woman’s cry for help.
‘In addition to the fast-acting flight attendants, the real heroes are the nurse and doctor who also happened to be on the plane,’ he said via the statement.
‘Thankfully they were able to provide the woman the quick ᴀssistance she needed.’
Andrews was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was only nine years old, according to UMᴀss Chan Medical School’s website. He even pricks his fingers to check his blood sugar approximately 30 times during a game.
Jon Solomon, a former sports reporter, put everything in perspective by reminding his followers of Andrews’ heroics aboard a Southwest Airlines flight last year
Andrews pictured in the warmup before the gripping game against the Bills on Sunday
Lamar Jackson was in no mood for blaming teammate Andrews in the aftermath of the loss
Many of Soloman’s followers were happy to be reminded of the incident.
‘Well Said, Bravo!’ wrote one.
‘So grateful I found and read this story,’ a woman wrote on X. ‘My youngest son is T1D, and seeing hero stories like this warm my heart and encourage me for my son’s future.’
Andrews also received support from Jackson and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
‘There’s nobody that has more heart, and cares more, and fights more than Mark. We wouldn’t be here without Mark Andrews,’ Harbaugh told reporters after the loss. ‘Mark will handle it fantastic, like he always does, because he’s a high-character person, he’s a tough person and he’s a good person. I’m proud of him just like I am all the guys.’
Jackson pointed the finger at himself for losing a fumble earlier in the game.
‘We’re a team,’ Jackson said. ‘First half I had two turnovers. It’s a team effort. He’s been busting his behind, making plays for us… All of us played a part in this game. It’s a team effort. I’m not gonna put that on Mark because he’s been battling all season, he’s been doing great things all season.’
And besides, as several X users pointed out, the Bills still had 1:33 of clock to work with and three time outs. Considering Buffalo only need a field goal to win, there’s a good chance Baltimore could have lost anyway, even if Andrews had hauled in that two-point conversion.
