For Ravens’ Mark Andrews, historic touchdown brings sweet release
By Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun,
1 days ago
Oct 13, 2024: Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second quarter of NFL football in Baltimore. The Ravens defeated the Commanders, 30-23. Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/TNS
Mark Andrews burst up the seam along the left hashmark, clipped past the linebacker and sprung into the air, hauling in his first touchdown catch of the season. The Ravens’ veteran tight end touched his feet down, then let out a barbaric yell. He viciously flung the ball into the turf and thumped his helmet toward the first teammate he could find.
“Pretty classic Mandrews,” fellow tight end Charlie Kolar said. “You know, just kind of yelling. He’s a dawg so great to see him take it in the end zone.”
It was one heck of an emotional release for Andrews, who tied Todd Heap for the franchise record with 41 career receiving touchdowns. He was a bit more even-keeled recounting the moment after the Ravens’ 30-23 win over the Washington Commanders.
“It felt great to get in the end zone and help impact in that way,” Andrews said. “It was a great feeling. Usually, it doesn’t take me six games to get in there, but yeah, that was a fun one.”
In 2021, it took Andrews five weeks to notch his first touchdown. He exploded for 11 catches and two scores against the Indianapolis Colts that October night. This scoreless drought — which extended to Week 8 last year — ended with three catches for a season-high 66 yards and the go-ahead touchdown right before halftime.
For much of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s career, Andrews was his favorite target. In 2019, 2021 and 2022, he led the Ravens in receiving yards. When he went down with an ankle injury in Week 11 last year, rookie Zay Flowers took the lead spot and Isaiah Likely, a sophomore tight end, broke out as a reliable target. Both rolled into this year as offensive mainstays.
Andrews stood in front of his locker Sunday with his hands wrapped behind his back and acknowledged that this year has been about growth in patience. Each season, he said, comes with a different challenge. This one has been coming to grips with his targets dipping and blocking role growing.
Although less flashy, he’s shined through the change. Pro Football Focus graded Andrews as the best run blocking tight end in football, but he’s outside the NFL’s top-20 tight ends for targets.
“I knew things were going to come my way eventually and [I’d] make big-time plays when they come,” Andrews said. “It’s just a matter of trusting my teammates, and I trust them more than anybody.”
His teammates had been bubbling over with anticipation.
Likely razzed him for getting tackled at the 2-yard line last week. “I told him this week, you gotta get in the end zone,” Likely said. And Jackson shyly shouldered some burden postgame. With his chin tucked into his hands, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player said he wanted to find Andrews in the end zone last week but gave him an errant throw.
“I was ticked off at myself,” Jackson said. “He was mad at me too, but he didn’t say nothing about it. He was like, ‘We good.’ He told me, he was like, ‘I was mad at you at first.’ I’m like, ‘I was mad at my damn self — you can’t be madder than me.’”
Jackson threw another ball to Andrews on Sunday he’d like to have back. Baltimore’s opening drive lasted four plays, highlighted by a 44-yard pickup by Flowers — part of his career day with 132 yards on nine catches — and lowlighted with a throw beyond Andrews’ outstretched hands that tipped right to Commanders rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil for the interception.
“Obviously, starting like that isn’t good,” Andrews said. “That’s not the way you want to start with the first pass thrown to you. But we have guys here who continue to work, work, work, so we don’t get caught up in the little things, especially early on in the game.”
The interception wound up being the offense’s lone gaffe in an otherwise strong outing.
This is a new, more malleable Ravens offense. As of Sunday night, Baltimore leads the league in yards per game with 453.7. The San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers — each of which have also played six games — are the next two with 420 and 400, respectively.
As coach John Harbaugh has preached all season, the AFC North-leading Ravens want to show something different each week. Rely on Jackson one day. Let Henry carry them another. Sunday was Andrews’ day, but it was also Flowers’ day and Rashod Bateman’s day, as all three posted season highs in receiving yards.
“We’re in a different style offense right now,” said Bateman, who caught four passes for 71 yards. “Very different than we had last year. Different guys to get the ball to. We headed in the right direction. … It shows that we put in a lot of work. It shows that we’re capable. It shows we can put the team on our back and win games if we need to.”
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