‘Late’ Lamar Jackson play deserves more blame for Ravens’ excruciating playoff ending: Chris Simms

‘Late’ Lamar Jackson play deserves more blame for Ravens’ excruciating playoff ending: Chris Simms

Chris Simms believes Mark Andrews shouldn’t have to shoulder all the blame for his crushing fourth-quarter drop in the Ravens’ 27-25 Divisional Round loss to the Bills on Sunday.

When dissecting the game-deciding play Monday during an appearance on “Up & Adams,” the son of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms voiced that while the star тιԍнт end “needs to catch” the ball, the pᴀss from quarterback Lamar Jackson was “late” and “not accurate.”

“A lot of people are going to be on Mark Andrews for the dropped two-point conversion,” Simms began his ᴀssessment as the play in question then appeared on the screen.

Ravens тιԍнт end Mark Andrews couldn’t haul in a pᴀss from QB Lamar Jackson in thte Ravens’ Divisional Round loss on Jan. 19, 2025. Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

“… Throw it, throw it! It’s too late, Lamar Jackson’s making $55 million a year, that ball needs to be on time, and it was not accurate. Mark Andrews needs to catch it, don’t get me wrong, but Lamar Jackson’s making $55 million a year and he double-clutched it and threw it like a dart.”

The former NFL quarterback-turned-analyst elaborated on his rationale again to host Kay Adams.

Chris Simms says the pᴀss thrown by Lamar Jackson (8) to Mark Andrews was “not accurate.” Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

“This was the perfect play call. So we can’t get mad at [Ravens offensive coordinator] Todd Monken,” Simms, 44, said. “What I’m saying is that Mark Andrews in the meeting today with Baltimore is going to get a negative grade for the drop but also, Lamar Jackson’s meeting with his quarterback coach and the offensive coordinator, he’s going to get a negative grade for this throw. It was late, he didn’t throw it with the same authority he usually throws it, and then he threw it behind him, he made it as hard as it possibly could be for a wide-open touchdown.”

Jackson orchestrated an eight-play, 88-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to bring the Ravens within two points of the Bills.

Chris Simms (r.) appeared on “Up & Adams” on Jan. 20, 2025. X/Up and Adams
Mark Andrews also had a fumble in the Ravens’ season-endling loss. AP

Andrews, one of Jackson’s most reliable targets, couldn’t haul in the pᴀss.

Although the drop put the final nail in the Ravens’ season, it was a mistake-riddled night in Orchard Park that featured an interception from Jackson, 28, in the first half, along with a fumble. Andrews, 29, also fumbled in the fourth quarter while the Ravens were driving for the go-ahead score.

Lamar Jackson, here on Jan. 4, 2025, said the Ravens are “not gonna put” the blame on Andrews. Getty Images

“We’re a team,” Jackson said. “…It’s not his fault. We’re not gonna put that on Mark.”

Andrews, who has played his entire career for the Ravens after being drafted in 2018, did not speak to the media Monday for the second consecutive day.

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