The Baltimore Ravens’ Week 11 win over the Cleveland Browns was not pretty, but a win is a win, and they improved to 5-5 by the end of Sunday’s matchup.
Following the performance, the story of the win is undoubtedly the defense’s electric showing. Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr called a superb game, as his unit held the opposing offense to less than 20 points for a fifth straight game.
On offense, the Ravens stalled out countless times. They struggled to make consistent plays, as pressure from Cleveland’s defensive line plagued Jackson all day long. They did make their usual highlight play, though, as tight end Mark Andrews made maybe the craziest play of the year with a 35-yard touchdown run on a fake tush push. That play practically sealed the win.
It was also a record-setting day for Andrews, who passed wide receiver Derrick Mason for most receiving yards in Baltimore history with an 11-yard reception early in the first quarter. He finished with three receptions for 32 yards in the win, now leading the franchise in the category with 5,804 receiving yards.
After the game, safety Kyle Hamilton, who was the star of the game on defense, made sure to give Andrews his flowers for not only the game-changing play, but also his new place in Ravens’ history.
“[Andrews’ record] just goes to show what kind of guy, pro, player he is, day in and day out,” Hamilton said. “One of, if not, the most consistent person that has been on this team since I’ve been here, just mentally, physically. He broke his ankle a couple of years ago. Gets to work, comes back ahead of schedule, plays in the AFC Championship…Life happens, stuff happens, and he’s a warrior.”
Mark Andrews keeps breathing life into Ravens’ offense
While Andrews is no longer putting up 800-1,000 yard seasons, it is clear how crucial he still is to the organization. On and off the field, he has played like a Raven, and in the past three games, he has been a game-changer.
In the team’s Week 9 win over the Miami Dolphins, he caught two touchdowns. In their Week 10 win against the Minnesota Vikings, he scored the touchdown that put the game out of reach, and he added yet another touchdown in Cleveland.
He is on a streak of three straight games with a touchdown, and while the yards are not coming, he continues to be an elite red zone threat. He also extended his franchise-leading touchdown total to 57 on Sunday.
The Ravens have been stagnant in recent weeks, especially in the red zone, but Andrews is bringing the fire they need to get off the ground. In troubling times like the ones Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken’s unit is currently facing, they turn to veterans like Andrews to lead the way. His scoring efforts are guiding the team to wins, and he should continue to help Baltimore find success heading into their Week 12 game against the New York Jets.