OTL: Mark Andrews Not Focused on Playoff Failure Ahead of Week 1

The Ravens are set to take the field Sunday night at Highmark Stadium for a Week 1 battle with the Buffalo Bills. Not only is it the return of “real” football, but also the first time Mark Andrews will take the field following his playoff blunder at that very stadium.

After the Ravens committed goal-line turnovers in back-to-back postseasons to end their ’22 (Tyler Huntley) and ’23 (Zay Flowers) seasons, Andrews’ dropped pass in the end zone made it a gut-wrenching third straight in 2024. It’s been a long offseason for the franchise TD leader, following a stretch of trade rumors and doubts regarding his consistency in the playoffs. Andrews has faced the tough questions and stood strong in front of the media, as he looks to turn the page entering 2025.

Following Wednesday’s practice, Andrews took the podium one final time ahead of Sunday night’s kickoff. He was asked how he puts the Buffalo loss behind him, stating, “I’m a pro. This is what I do. This is my entire world. It’s about focusing and doing my job.”

The Ravens, however, can’t afford another their star tight end to get off to another slow start as he did for the first five weeks of 2024. It was his longest start to a season without a touchdown, before finally getting things going in Week 6 against the Commanders.

With Isaiah Likely (foot) not expected to suit up in Week 1, Lamar Jackson could look to his favorite red zone target often Sunday night. The Bills secondary appears a bit banged up heading into Week 1, already down cornerbacks rookie Maxwell Hairston and former Raven Tre White. Jackson enters with a plethora of weapons, arguably the best supporting cast of his now eight seasons.

You’d have to imagine the Ravens will look to sling the rock around a bit, giving Andrews a prime opportunity to get off on the right foot to begin the year. The Ravens elected to pick up his $4 million roster bonus during the offseason, forgoing speculation of a potential trade. The 2024 tight end TD leader begins the season on the final year of his 4yr/$56m extension signed back in 2021, along with fellow tight ends Likely and Charlie Kolar.

There’s not another franchise in the league that values tight ends more than the Ravens, but it’s hard to see them retaining all three long-term. For Andrews, many believe he could be the odd man out, given his age and the potential of both Likely and Kolar.

If 2025 becomes the final season in Baltimore for a guy poised to become the franchise leader in receiving yards (he needs 248 to pass Derrick Mason), there’s no better way to get things started than redemption in Buffalo this coming Sunday night.

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