The Baltimore Ravens’ season came to a gut-wrenching end in Buffalo. In a game that had fans holding their breath until the final moments, the Ravens fell 27-25 to the Bills in the Divisional Round. It was a game marked by missed opportunities, including three costly turnovers, untimely penalties, and a dropped two-point conversion that sealed Baltimore’s fate.
After a back-and-forth battle, Lamar Jackson led the Ravens on a heroic 88-yard drive in the final minutes to pull within two points. But with just 1:33 left, Jackson’s pass to a wide-open Mark Andrews for the game-tying two-point conversion slipped through the Pro Bowl tight end’s hands. For a team that’s spent the season battling adversity, this felt like the cruelest way to lose.
The aftermath of the game was predictably filled with finger-pointing, and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms decided to pile on Lamar Jackson during an appearance on Up & Adams. Simms didn’t just share his opinion—he took it to an irresponsible level, blaming Jackson for a play that any tight end worth his salt should have made.
Chris Simms completely misses the Mark on Lamar Jackson blame
Let’s start with the facts. The pass from Lamar Jackson to Mark Andrews wasn’t a perfect throw, but it wasn’t some impossible circus catch either. It hit Andrews right in the chest, with both hands on the ball.
That’s a catch any Pro Bowl tight end—or frankly, any NFL tight end—should make. Yet Chris Simms, in his infinite wisdom, decided to focus on Jackson’s timing and delivery, claiming it was “too late” and “behind” Andrews.
Simms even went as far as saying, “(Lamar) made it as hard as it could possibly be for a wide open (two-point conversion).” The hardest it could possibly be? Really? Did Jackson turn into Tim Tebow mid-play? No. The ball hit him square in the chest—this wasn’t some one-handed miracle attempt or a Hail Mary into triple coverage.
It was a routine catch by NFL standards, and Andrews just didn’t come through. It's telling, especially since Andrews didn't make himself available to speak to the media after the game.
"(Lamar) made it as HARD as it could possibly be for a WIDE OPEN (two-point conversion)."@CSimmsQB on why the Mark Andrews drop was more on Lamar Jackson than we think... 👀🔊@heykayadams @ravens | #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/6ZU35Jj18P
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) January 20, 2025
Simms then doubled down, adding, “Lamar Jackson’s making $55 million a year, that ball needs to be on time and it was not accurate.” Ah, the classic contract-shaming argument, as if Jackson’s paycheck is somehow responsible for Andrews’ inability to haul in the pass.
For a former quarterback who spent most of his career on the bench, Simms should know better than anyone that sometimes, even the best players can’t compensate for mistakes made by others.
Here’s the reality: Jackson put the team on his back during that final drive, leading an 88-yard march with the game on the line. Was the pass flawless? No. But it didn’t need to be. Andrews had a clear shot to secure it, and he dropped it. That’s the story here—not Jackson “making it hard” for his tight end.
Simms’ comments don’t just miss the mark—they perpetuate a lazy, tired narrative about Lamar Jackson. Criticizing Jackson for a play where he did his job—and Andrews didn’t—shows a lack of nuance and an eagerness to pile on. Simms has the responsibility—especially as a former quarterback—to call criticism fairly. The Lamar blame game is an easy narrative to support, and sometimes, the low-hanging fruit is the easy way out. He took the easy way out.
Critiquing fairly is part of the job, but blaming Lamar for a textbook drop feels like (and we'll take a page out of Simms' flair for the dramatics) taking the laziest route possible. Lamar Jackson didn’t lose the game. Mark Andrews dropped it. Literally.