Mark Andrews had one of the roughest nights of his Ravens career on Sunday in Atlanta: a dropped touchdown, a lost fumble returned for a Falcons score and a failed two-point catch that would have tied the game. Baltimore still won 30-23 in overtime, and Andrews helped extend the winning drive, which is why the conversation around the franchise’s all-time leading tight end is louder than the box score suggests.
For Ravens fans, the question is not whether one bad game changes Andrews’ place in team history. It is whether the mistakes are a blip or a warning sign as Baltimore, now 4-1 and first in the AFC North, heads to Cleveland with Lamar Jackson’s ankle still a question mark.
What went wrong for Mark Andrews against the Falcons?
The trouble started on Baltimore’s first possession. On third-and-goal, Andrews could not hold on to a pass from Tyler Huntley in the end zone, and the Ravens settled for a 21-yard Tyler Loop field goal, according to Pro Football Network and Yahoo Sports.
On the next drive, Andrews fumbled after a 9-yard catch. Falcons safety Jessie Bates III picked up the ball and returned it 36 yards for Atlanta’s first touchdown.
In the third quarter, with Baltimore trailing 17-15, the Ravens went for two and targeted Andrews. The pass fell incomplete, with Bates breaking it up. Late in the fourth quarter, a third-down throw to Andrews was broken up by Atlanta safety Xavier Watts, and the Falcons answered with a field goal to go up by eight.
Andrews finished with four catches on six targets for 28 yards, according to CBS Sports, third on the team behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
| Moment | Play involving Andrews | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter, opening drive | Third-and-goal pass not caught in end zone | Ravens kick 21-yard field goal |
| 1st quarter, next drive | Fumble after a 9-yard catch | Jessie Bates III returns it 36 yards for a TD |
| 3rd quarter, down 17-15 | Two-point pass broken up by Bates | Game stays 17-15 |
| Late 4th quarter | Third-down pass broken up by Xavier Watts | Atlanta kicks field goal to lead by 8 |
| Tying drive | 1 catch, 3 yards | Huntley TD to Devontez Walker; Derrick Henry 2-point run |
| Overtime | 2 catches, 16 yards, including a third-down conversion | Huntley 1-yard sneak wins it after Kyle Hamilton’s interception ends Atlanta’s possession |
How rare was a night like that?
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, citing ESPN Research, noted that Andrews became the first Ravens player with a drop and a lost fumble in the same game since Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in Week 17 of the 2021 season, as cited by Pro Football Network.
The bigger reason the night stung in Baltimore is memory. In the January 2025 AFC divisional playoff in Buffalo, Andrews lost a fumble and could not hold a late two-point pass in the Ravens’ 27-25 loss to the Bills.
What did Andrews say after the game?
Andrews did not dodge the criticism. He told reporters the performance was not what he wants to put on the field and that success comes down to details, according to Pro Football Network. He also pointed to the team’s ability to overcome adversity, something he said Ravens teams of past years may not have managed.
“But at the end of the day, I have to be better.”
Mark Andrews, Ravens tight end, via Pro Football Network
Did Andrews help win the game in overtime?
Yes, and that part is easy to miss in the highlight clips. After the Ravens tied the game late in regulation, Baltimore received the ball first in overtime and put together a 14-play, 68-yard drive that took more than seven minutes. Andrews caught two passes for 16 yards on that series, including one of the two third-down conversions, before Huntley finished it with a 1-yard quarterback sneak.
We broke down the full comeback, including Huntley’s late-game numbers, in our recap of the Ravens’ overtime win at Atlanta.
Is Mark Andrews’ job or contract at risk?
The Ravens have announced no change. The team signed Andrews to a three-year extension in December 2025 worth $39.3 million, with $26 million guaranteed, running through 2028, The Baltimore Banner reported at the time.
At the time of that deal, the Banner noted, Andrews held the franchise records for receiving touchdowns, receiving yards and catches and was a three-time Pro Bowler. That track record is why a single game, even a very public one, is unlikely to move him off the field. Whether his snaps or targets shift in coming weeks is something only the coaching staff can answer, and it has not said.
What’s next for Andrews and the Ravens?
- Opponent: Cleveland Browns (3-2), the Ravens’ first AFC North game.
- When: Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. ET, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.
- Quarterback: Lamar Jackson is dealing with a sprained left ankle. His status for Cleveland had not been announced as of Monday morning.
- What to watch: Whether Huntley, or Jackson if he returns, keeps going to Andrews in the red zone after Sunday’s misses.
Fantasy analysts at RotoWire, cited by CBS Sports, said Andrews’ quiet line came mostly from his own mistakes rather than from the quarterback change, and that his outlook could improve if Jackson returns. For background on the injury, see our earlier report on why Lamar Jackson was ruled out against the Falcons.
For a fan base that has watched Andrews become the most productive tight end in team history, the Atlanta game was hard to watch. The overtime drive was a reminder that the Ravens still trust him when it matters, and Cleveland will be the first test of whether that trust is rewarded.
Featured image: Mark Andrews scores a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers at M&T Bank Stadium in October 2021. Photo: Maryland GovPics / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.