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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Mark Andrews has been notably absent following his critical dropped 2-point conversion that resulted in the Baltimore Ravens’ defeat against the Buffalo Bills.
In light of another disappointing end to their postseason, it’s challenging for Andrews and his teammates to articulate what went wrong. After the Ravens’ narrow 27-25 loss on Sunday night, Andrews left the locker room without addressing the media, and he was also missing during Monday’s open locker room session at the team’s practice facility. Understandably, the atmosphere was heavy with disappointment as the Ravens fell in the divisional round despite showcasing an offensive prowess throughout the season.
“This is the best offense I’ve ever been a part of,” said fullback Patrick Ricard. “I had the privilege to play alongside the best running back and best quarterback in football. There’s much to take pride in, but at the end of the day, I want to win a Super Bowl for myself and for Baltimore.”
The Ravens, finishing the season at 13-6, find themselves no closer to that championship aspiration. After enduring a painful loss at home in last year’s AFC Championship game, Baltimore’s regular season record saw a slight decline from 13-4 to 12-5. However, this drop meant they were seeded No. 3 and had to contend against the Bills in the second round of the playoffs.
Although the Ravens outperformed the Bills statistically, amassing 416 yards compared to Buffalo’s 273, they suffered from deadly turnovers. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, on track to potentially win his third MVP award, threw an interception and lost a fumble in the first half, contributing to the Bills taking an early 21-10 lead. When Jackson began to rally his team in the second half, Andrews faced a series of misfortunes—including losing a fumble in the fourth quarter followed by a crucial drop on the 2-point conversion that could have equalized the score with just 1:33 left in the game.
“Mark is an absolute competitor. He’ll recover,” Ricard assured. “He’s going to feel this loss for a while, but he will bounce back and continue to do great things.”
Over the last two years, each loss has felt palpable for the Ravens, often appearing preventable. The team rarely seemed genuinely outmatched; when Jackson has been healthy, their losses have typically been by seven points or fewer since 2021. Despite some warning signs this season, including penalties and missed field goals, the turnovers were the primary factor in their loss to Buffalo.
A team that ranked among the best for minimizing turnovers during the regular season saw a surprising turn of events in the playoffs, giving up the ball three times. While their strong red-zone efficiency had been a hallmark throughout the season, they could only manage a field-goal after gaining first-and-goal from the Buffalo 2-yard line in the second quarter.
Strangely, Andrews had only recorded one fumble in his entire career before this game, back in 2019. Meanwhile, Jackson had thrown merely four interceptions during the entire season, and it had been a long time since he had multiple turnovers in a single game. Yet, on this occasion, both occurred within the first three possessions of the game.
Losing playoff games in an atypical fashion is swiftly becoming a troubling pattern for this franchise. Andrews’ costly drop adds to a series of unfortunate goal line mishaps, including Zay Flowers’ fumble in last year’s encounter with Kansas City, and Tyler Huntley’s fumble during a crucial quarterback sneak which led to a touchdown for Cincinnati, ultimately ending the Ravens’ 2022 season.
Despite the struggles, Baltimore’s offensive brilliance could not be overshadowed. The Bills found it difficult to halt the Ravens, yielding an average of 7.3 yards per play. In the regular season, Baltimore boasted an average of 6.85 yards per play—only behind the legendary Rams teams of 2000 and 1954—and set an NFL record with 5.76 yards per rushing attempt.
Although the Bills managed to contain Baltimore’s rushing ability, the Ravens still achieved a respectable 176 yards on 30 carries, with Derrick Henry showing exceptional performance in his inaugural season with the team.
Looking forward, the upcoming offseason may not be as eventful as the last. Prior to the 2024 season, the Ravens had significant shifts, including signing Henry, losing key defensive players like Patrick Queen and Jadeveon Clowney, and utilizing the franchise tag for defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike before locking in a long-term deal with him. They also dealt with replacing three starters on the offensive line.
Free agency could prompt further changes, particularly on the offensive line. Ricard is among the pending free agents, but he conveyed a strong desire to remain with the Ravens and Jackson. “It’s inevitable that he’s going to win a Super Bowl, and I want to be part of it,” Ricard stated. “Everyone knows that championships are the standard, and I believe he will achieve it one day.”
Last offseason, the Ravens had to find a new defensive coordinator, and now offensive coordinator Todd Monken has been associated with various head coach vacancies. “I hope the entire unit returns; these are my teammates, so why not give it another shot?” Flowers echoed, emphasizing the cohesive bond within the team.
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