ORCHARD PARK, NY – Have you seen it before?
The Ravens took their charge onto the field at Highmark Stadium on Sunday night with just over three minutes remaining, needing 8 points to tie the game and keep their season alive in the AFC divisional round vs. Washington.
It was a methodical drive maintained by Lamar Jackson that scrambled and gained ground in space. The two-time Most Valuable Player Award winner spent eight seconds surveying the field before firing a shot at the tight end. Isaiah Likely streaked across the front of the end zone for the score. Coach John Harbaugh wagged two fingers from the sideline signaling the obvious decision.
On a 2-point attempt, Jackson rolled to his right and threw the ball to a wide-open Mark Andrews, his most trusted receiver since the two entered the league in 2018. He dropped the ball and Baltimore’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion, 27-25.
Andrews was not available to speak to reporters after the game.
Sunday night wasn’t much different from the way the Ravens were sent packing this time last year. Then, it was rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers, who jumped toward the goal line when the ball was released. This effectively ended the Ravens’ chances of beating the Goliath Kansas City Chiefs and punching their ticket to the Super Bowl.
Andrews had a big hand in his return to football in late January. He played injured throughout the early part of the season. He responded to weeks of criticism about his lack of involvement in the passing game by scoring touchdowns in seven of the final eight games of the regular season while finishing third on the team in receiving yards (673).
While the Bills began preparing to dethrone the Chiefs next weekend, the Ravens boarding the plane home racked their brains over a number of issues from the loss that put them in the passenger seat early.
The defense looked sluggish for most of the first half. Baltimore’s vaunted running game took three quarters to start to pick up. Jackson threw an interception early and fumbled a short time later in slippery conditions. And Andrews fumbled early in the fourth quarter – the first time he missed the ball since 2019.
“I walked straight there [Andrews] and I told him I love him, I appreciate him,” left tackle Ronnie Stanley said. “That game wasn’t… I know it seems like it came down to that one game, but there were a lot of other games that were factors in us being in that position. There is a lot of play during the game. You wouldn’t blame one play for the whole game and give the guy crap for whatever happened.”
Andrews ran off the field after his fumble in the fourth quarter. He parked himself calmly at the farthest end of the sideline where the players were allowed to stand. He paced a few steps, clasping his hands behind his back. Lamar Jackson walked over and punched him in the chest, probably telling him to keep his head up. Then Andrews sat on the bench. He could only stare at the snow-covered field and saw the clock chime from under his jacket.
His chance for redemption had arrived. But the Ravens’ all-time touchdown leader didn’t make it. It was a sad moment for a player who was highly respected in Baltimore’s locker room.
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“For anyone to say anything about him, you have to look in the mirror and really evaluate your thought process [given] what he has done for this franchise [and] what he will do for this franchise in the future,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “He has been a beacon of consistent success throughout his time here, and for anyone to take anything away from him and his work ethic, I think that would be unfair.”
Running back Derrick Henry called Andrews “a warrior” who has a lot to rely on starting this season. Right tackle Roger Rosengarten said he sits down with Andrews the night before every game to get as much wisdom as possible from the veteran. His partner, Isaiah, may call Andrews his older brother, but “it happens, he’s human.” Jackson limited his mistakes, saying, “It was a team effort. We’re not going to put that on Mark, because he’s been struggling all season.”
The stench of a season that didn’t live up to expectations lingered in the dressing room after the match.
Jackson was lost in his locker trying to comprehend this reality next to quarterbacks coach Tee Martin. Center Tyler Linderbaum scratched his head in dismay. There are those who are slow to grieve, still in uniform. Others wanted to get as far away from Buffalo as quickly as possible. Few people in the dressing room could find the right words to express those feelings.
“Just like anything else – destiny is a decision you make,” Harbaugh said. “The decision is how you handle what comes into your life. Mark will handle it wonderfully like he always does, because he’s a high character guy, he’s a tough guy, and he’s a good guy. I’m proud of him as much as I’m proud of all the players.”
Ravens fans may feel their minds drifting back to Jan. 22, 2012 when Lee Evans dropped a potential game-winning touchdown, trailing by a field goal in the final seconds of the AFC championship vs. Washington.
This ending may feel a little too familiar compared to last year.
When the snow starts to fall, uncertainty sets in. “The message,” said the often blunt veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey, “was, ‘We lost. Forget it,’ and we’ll see where this offseason goes.”
Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.
Gaming Hub
A gaming hub can refer to a central platform or space dedicated to gaming, where players can access games, interact with other gamers, and enjoy related content. Here are a few different kinds of gaming hubs you might be referring to:
Physical Gaming Hubs:
Gaming Cafés: Physical locations where players can rent time on high-end gaming PCs or consoles to play popular multiplayer or single-player games.
Esports Arenas: Specialized venues for competitive gaming tournaments where players or teams face off in games like League of Legends, CS
, or Fortnite.
Digital Gaming Hubs:
Steam, Epic Games Store, or GOG: Digital storefronts where you can purchase and play games, join online communities, and access updates and patches.
Game Launchers: Platforms like Steam, Blizzard’s Battle.net, and Xbox Game Pass often act as hubs where gamers can access multiple titles and keep track of their library.
Cloud Gaming Platforms: Services like NVIDIA GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming that allow players to stream games on various devices without needing high-end hardware.
Social/Community Gaming Hubs:
Discord Servers: Dedicated communities for games where players can chat, share tips, and find others to play with.
Reddit Communities: Subreddits dedicated to specific games or gaming news.
Gaming Consoles as Hubs:
Systems like the PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch act as central hubs for playing games, interacting with friends, and even streaming content like Netflix or Twitch.
If you meant something specific by “gaming hub,” let me know and I can elaborate further!
