Mark Andrews had a rough Divisional Round, making critical mistakes bound to tarnish his Baltimore Ravens legacy. But instead of catching heat, the Ravens tight end got hit with some unexpected love — from a Pittsburgh Steelers legend, no less.
Rather than adding insult to injury, former Steelers safety Ryan Clark defended Andrews amidst immediate scrutiny from Baltimore’s 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Ryan Clark Backs Mark Andrews After Playoff Blunders, Fans Debate His Legacy
Andrews had a night to forget, but Clark wasn’t about to let the star tight end shoulder the blame alone. After a Divisional Round loss to the Bills, highlighted by Andrews’ critical mistakes — a fourth-quarter fumble and a dropped two-point conversion — Clark took to social media with words of encouragement.
“Keep ya head, Mark Andrews!” Clark wrote. “You’ve made a ton of plays throughout your career that have made the Ravens who they are today … You’re an absolute baller.”
Keep ya head Mark Andrews! You’ve made a ton of plays throughout your career that have made the Ravens who they are today. You had a great year. We all have a few that we wish we could have back. You’re an absolute baller @Mandrews_81! 🙏🏾
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 20, 2025
Andrews’ struggles in the playoffs have ignited debates among fans. While some, like one fan, hailed him as a “HOF tight end,” others pointed to a troubling postseason trend.
“Mark Andrews in the playoffs would show he one of the biggest reasons the Ravens can’t advance; he now has huge drops,” tweeted one fan.
Exactly. Mark Andrews is a HOF tight end. Painful drop, yes, but he’s proved his worth repeatedly.
— Mark Rhodes (@MarkRhodes11) January 20, 2025
Andres TE has had a stellar career — posting 5,530 yards and 51 touchdowns in his seven seasons — but the narrative shifts quickly in the playoffs. Sunday’s errors were glaring, especially with the team’s Super Bowl aspirations on the line.
Still, the criticism wasn’t unanimous. Some defended Andrews, arguing other Ravens stars, like Lamar Jackson, also made costly mistakes. “Lamar also had a fumble and a bad interception, so seriously stop it,” wrote one fan.
Another chimed, “Mark Andrews has never shown up for the Ravens in the playoffs. That’s a fact unfortunately.”
lol 😂 dude made one bad play but Lamar also had a fumble and a bad interception so seriously stop it
— Stephen J Noyola (@StephenJam82655) January 20, 2025
Clark, no stranger to playoff pressure (a Super Bowl champion with Pittsburgh), knows a thing or two about redemption. His words serve as a reminder that even the NFL’s best have off days.
For Andrews, the challenge now lies in proving the doubters wrong. One bad night doesn’t erase years of elite performance, but bouncing back next season will be crucial to silence the critics. The Ravens veteran helped the offense rank second in the NFL (by PFN’s Offense+) ahead of their elimination.
Mark Andrews Under Fire After Costly Plays in Ravens’ Playoff Defeat
Andrews, one of the key pieces of Baltimore’s passing attack, picked a rough night for some brutal mistakes. Andrews pulled a disappearing act, skipping the postgame media session when everyone was waiting for answers.
Andrews coughed up the ball late in the fourth quarter, killing a critical drive. With under a minute remaining, he then dropped a two-point conversion that would’ve tied the game. While Jackson and head coach John Harbaugh faced the heat, Andrews was nowhere to be found. While some demanded accountability, others understood why he may have opted to remain unavailable.
According to Jeff Zrebiec (The Athletic), Andrews’ no-show didn’t go unnoticed. Fans and media were ready to hear how the Pro Bowl tight end was processing those game-changing mistakes — instead, they got silence.
There’s still a shot we’ll hear from him on Monday during the team’s annual locker cleanout (per Jonas Shaffer). Until then, the Ravens and their fans are left wondering whether a talented core can overcome repeated playoff heartbreaks.