The Ravens didn’t place blame on Mark Andrews after two devastating fourth quarter mistakes by the veteran тιԍнт end in a 27-25 loss to the Bills in the Divisional Round game on Sunday.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh defended Andrews after he had a costly fumble and dropped a game-tying two-point conversion attempt with less than two minutes to play at Highmark Stadium in snowy Buffalo.
“There’s nobody that has more heart, cares more, and fights more than Mark,” Harbaugh told reporters after the game. “We wouldn’t be here without Mark Andrews.”
“… Mark will handle it fantastically like he always does, because he’s a high-character person, a tough person and a good person. Proud of him like I’m proud of all the guys.”
Andrews, who entered Sunday’s game without a dropped pᴀss since Week 6, did not speak to the media afterwards.
The Ravens were trailing by eight points late in the fourth quarter, when quarterback Lamar Jackson connected with тιԍнт end Isaiah Likely in the end zone.
Baltimore needed a two point conversion to tie the game with less than two minutes to go.
Jackson found Andrews for a short pᴀss in the end zone, but Andrews couldn’t hold onto the ball.
The three-time Pro Bowler also had a crucial turnover on the previous drive, his first lost fumble since 2019.
Andrews caught a pᴀss beyond midfield but was stripped as he tried to find room to run.
Jackson also defended Andrews.
“I’m just as hurt as Mark. I don’t [think it’s] his fault,” Jackson said. “Like, all of us played a factor in the game. It’s a team effort. Just not gonna put that on Mark, bro, because he’s been battling all season.
“He been doing all the great things he’s been doing all season. It don’t always go our way. We wanted to but at the wrong time it’s like it’s not going our way. We need to figure that out.”
The Ravens tied season highs with three turnovers and three drops in Sunday’s loss to the Bills.
Andrews finished the game with a team-high five receptions for 61 yards.
The All-Pro тιԍнт end struggled to start this season season, catching six pᴀsses for 65 yards through the first four weeks.
He tallied 49 receptions for 608 yards and 11 touchdowns across 13 games after that.
The Bills will face the reigning champion Chiefs in Kansas City in an AFC Championship rematch on Jan. 26.
