Baltimore Ravens' Lethal Lamar Jackson-Mark Andrews Connection Rekindled vs. Cleveland Browns
Both Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews entered the league in 2018, and since then have developed one of the most potent quarterback-tight end connections in the league.
Jackson's slow start through the air this season resulted in just two passing touchdowns entering Sunday with one of those going to Andrews. The duo surpassed that total against the Cleveland Browns, connecting on two touchdown throws which helped the Baltimore Ravens come away with a dominant 28-3 victory.
Andrews revealed after the game what led to the rekindling of his and Jackson's pitch-and-catch relationship on the field. "Unspoken trust," Andrews said. "We rep it all the time. We've been doing this for a long time, and it just feels so good to be able to come out here and compete with him."
Ravens TE Mark Andrews
USA Today Sports
Not a single throw that went Andrews' way Sunday fell incomplete, as he and Jackson's rapport only strengthened as the game went on. The two linked up for a 7-yard completion on third-and-13 before linking up on a 12-yard comeback route in the second quarter.
On Andrews' third catch, he chipped defensive end Za'Darius Smith at the line of scrimmage but Cleveland's pass rush started to break down the pocket. Jackson stepped up and looked to take off, but Andrews leaked out towards the sideline catching an across-the-body pass from the Ravens' signal-caller as he picked up a gain of 36 that led to a touchdown.
However, the pairing started linking up in the end zone. Facing a third-and-5 with 17 seconds to go in the first half and leading 14-3, Jackson back-pedaled and lofted a throw to the back right pylon, putting the ball high enough that Andrews was the only set of hands within the sea of Browns to come down with it.
"I believe if I would have tried to shoot it to Mark, [the cornerback] could've made a play on it and probably intercepted it," Jackson said after the game. "I just gave Mark a shot, and he did the rest."
Again on third down, Andrews put a ribbon on his five-catch, 80-yard, two-touchdown game, drifting upfield after running a crossing route before shedding Browns safety Juan Thornhill's attempted ankle tackle and diving head-long into the end zone.
Sunday marked the seventh time in their careers that they have linked up for two touchdown passes. If they can replicate the connection they had against Cleveland, the Ravens' passing offense — which entered Sunday 24th in the NFL — is destined to improve.
