Mark Andrews can retire right now and go down as the greatest tight end in Baltimore Ravens history without much debate. He's firmly entrenched in the franchise's 30-year (and counting) existence; however, one notorious stain on his résumé will haunt him and fans forever. They will get a brutal reminder of this to open the 2025 NFL campaign, especially with Isaiah Likely reportedly not expected to suit up.
The Ravens Flock presumably still has nightmarishly vivid memories of Andrews' disastrous and costly showing in last year's AFC Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills. His miscues weren't the sole reason Baltimore fell short, though they were the most glaring. He and the team return to Highmark Stadium in Week 1, marking their first time since the gut-wrenching result. Likely not playing only amplifies the trauma, and there's no running from it.
Mark Andrews can't escape playoff meltdown trauma vs. Bills with Isaiah Likely out Week 1
Likely is recovering from a foot fracture that he suffered earlier this offseason, which required surgery in late July. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta anticipates him rejoining the lineup "in the early part of the season," just not versus the Bills. Consequently, his absence puts extra attention on Andrews, whether the three-time Pro Bowler wants it or not.
Apologies to the Baltimore faithful for reliving the agony, because frankly, the scar hasn't healed. It may even be an open wound to many, and rightfully so. Nonetheless, the only way to move forward is by letting go of the past. Helping the Ravens claim the head-to-head advantage over Buffalo in what figures to be a tight race for conference supremacy certainly fits the bill.
Only one game separated the 13-4 Bills from the 12-5 Ravens in 2024. That proved to be the difference between Andrews and Baltimore going into a hostile environment and them hosting Buffalo. Perhaps things would've gone differently if their tightly-contested playoff meeting had been at M&T Bank Stadium instead.
Buffalo was 8-0 at home and 5-4 on the road. Conversely, the Ravens went 6-2 at home, so it's fair to assume the outcome was subject to change based on the location. The game script could've looked much different. Andrews may not have even been in a position to commit his infamous fourth-quarter fumble and game-tying two-point conversion drop. We'll never know, but confronting his demons with a strong follow-up act in Buffalo can help get the awful taste out of everyone's mouths.