Ravens Mark Andrews on Offensive Confidence in Playoffs: 'We Got A Lot of Playmakers!'
The Baltimore Ravens playoff campaign begins against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium, with Todd Monken's offense "in sync" according to Lamar Jackson.
With a host of weapons that is the envy of the league, the Ravens ended the regular season with the fourth-ranked offense in football (28.4 points per game).
But one weapon who has been on the sidelines is All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews as he was ruled out for the regular season with an ankle injury suffered against the Cincinnati Bengals.
What does he think of how the offense is playing as they enter the Divisional Round having watched from afar?
“Clicking on all cylinders, you're just carrying that into the playoffs,” Andrews said. “We got a lot of playmakers that are playing really good ball right now and a coaching staff that supports them. That's what it's effort and that's what we got a great team.”
There was a thought that Andrews was going to be suiting up against the Texans but it appears a bridge too far with the AFC Championship game a more realistic target.
But in Isaiah Likely, the Ravens have a more than capable replacement for Andrews as the second-year tight end finished the year with 411 receiving yards and five touchdowns (second-most on the team).
Nov 16, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) runs after a first half catch against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY SportsCredit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Likely ended the regular season in good form, hauling in three touchdowns in his last two games as the absence of Andrews was barely felt.
“You see it you know game by game him getting better and better and making big-time plays,” Andrews said of Likely. "That's a credit to how hard he's worked and it's been awesome to see him do that, we're thankful to have him.”
Likely will have a big role in helping the Ravens overcome a youthful Texans team led by C.J. Stroud as the offense is going to need to be "clicking on all cylinders" if it is to make it past DeMeco Ryans' team.
Baltimore is in its best position to make the AFC Championship game and potentially more since 2019 when it held the No. 1 seed - it just needs to capitalize on it.
Everything feels set up for the Ravens to go on a deep playoff run, but in order for them to do it, the "playmakers" on offense, including Likely, need to show up in a big way in the Divisional Round.
And we imagine they'll do just that.
