Orchard Park, N.Y. — Lamar Jackson led the Baltimore Ravens to a thrilling opportunity for a comeback, vying for a spot in the AFC Championship game but ultimately fell short in a nail-biting 27-25 defeat to the Buffalo Bills in the playoff division round on Sunday evening.
The pivotal moment came with just 1:33 left on the clock when tight end Mark Andrews, who typically excels in clutch situations, let a pass from Jackson slip off his fingers and chest during a crucial 2-point conversion attempt. This missed opportunity meant the Ravens left the field with lingering questions about their playoff performance once again, missing a chance to alter their narrative of struggles in postseason games.
“We have to overcome this hurdle,” Jackson lamented after the game, expressing his frustration. “We’re so close, and I’m tired of being on the brink. We’ve got to secure that opportunity.” Despite throwing an interception and losing a fumble earlier in the match, Jackson defended Andrews, saying, “It’s not his fault. Everyone has a role in this. Mark has fought hard all season long. Not everything goes our way, but we need to identify how to solve our issues when things aren’t going our direction.”
With three key turnovers impacting the game, an 11-point deficit at halftime, and unsuccessful attempts at 2-point conversations, the Ravens found it too difficult to bounce back. Following this loss, Jackson’s postseason record fell to 3-5, and he is now 1-5 when turning the ball over during playoffs, which contributed to the Ravens not reaching the conference championship game for the fourth time out of their last five playoff runs since Jackson joined the team in 2018.
This season was particularly disappointing for Baltimore, as they ranked third in the NFL for total yards, simultaneously making history by being the first team to surpass 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards, all while boasting the league’s top rushing defense.
“We didn’t execute the plays needed to secure a win in crucial moments. We performed adequately to win, but we failed to make the essential plays,” said head coach John Harbaugh. He believes Andrews will recover from this setback. “Mark possesses incredible heart and determination. We wouldn’t be where we are without him. He will handle this situation well, like he always does, due to his strong character and tenacity. I am proud of him, just as I am of the entire team.”
Despite the Ravens dominating in total yardage, with 416 to Buffalo’s 273, they struggled to convert drives into points. Following an impressive 16-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Rashod Bateman on the opening drive, the next two possessions ended in turnovers. Andrews’ critical fumble happened at the Bills’ 44-yard line, allowing Buffalo to extend their lead with a field goal late in the fourth quarter.
“It was unusual for us to turn over the ball in such a manner. In many games this season without turnovers, we would typically come out on top,” Harbaugh said. Andrews recorded five receptions totaling 61 yards and was also targeted on the Ravens’ first 2-point attempt, which failed when linebacker Matt Milano deflected Jackson’s pass.
After the game, Andrews bypassed speaking with reporters. Running back Derrick Henry, who rushed for 84 yards, emphasized that the loss should not be placed solely on Andrews. “This is a team effort. It’s on all of us; we are in this together.”
With this loss, the Ravens’ record stands at 0-10 when trailing by 10 points or more at halftime with Jackson under center. Baltimore’s defense faced challenges, allowing a season-high 147 rushing yards to Buffalo, where quarterback Josh Allen notched touchdowns on 1- and 4-yard runs, along with rookie Ray Davis scoring on a similar 1-yard play.
“Honestly, I didn’t think we played physically enough in the first half,” said safety Kyle Hamilton. “We could have performed better overall, but it was disappointing to see them run the same plays repeatedly without us being able to stop it. It felt somewhat disrespectful to allow that, as it doesn’t reflect our capabilities as a defense. We can examine several incidents that occurred throughout the game, but in the end, it simply wasn’t sufficient to earn the win.”
