“Bless his heart. He has to be the sickest man in America.”
It’s been 46 years since legendary broadcaster Vern Lundquist uttered such an exclamation after witnessing future Hall of Fame tight end Jackie Smith’s gaffe during Super Bowl XIII. (More on this later.)
But Lundquist’s sentiments could just as easily apply to Mark Andrews of the Baltimore Ravens. He’s a potential Hall of Famer himself, but like Smith, he may not be remembered for his many accomplishments in the NFL right now.
Andrews had the worst game of his seven-year career Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. He had already dropped a pass and lost his first fumble in more than five years in the fourth quarter, a significant blow to the Ravens’ comeback in a game in which they were mostly trailing. But that was just a prelude.
Presumptive MVP Lamar Jackson nearly brought Baltimore back to even power, scoring a 24-yard touchdown to Isaiah Likely with 93 seconds left, cutting Buffalo’s lead to 27-25. A successful two-point conversion on the next snap would have tied the game…but a wide-open Andrews missed a very catchable pass from Jackson that was drifting towards the near pylon before losing his footing. I couldn’t process it. Simply put, it was a brutal mistake, atypical of Andrews’ career, which includes a Ravens team-record 51 touchdowns.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: Latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats, and more.
“(It’s) not his fault,” Jackson said of Andrews. “We all contributed in that game. It was a team effort. I’m not going to put that on Mark.”
Andrews’ other teammates rallied to his support, but Andrews did not speak to reporters after the game.
“He’s the best tight end in the league,” Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum said. “There’s nothing to say. It doesn’t come down to one play. There’s a reason for the four-quarter ball game. There’s 160 plays in the game. We can’t allow it to come down to one play, and we’ve got Marko. Please believe in the whole world.”
Added coach John Harbaugh: “There’s no one with more heart, more compassion and more fight than Mark. We wouldn’t be here without Mark Andrews.”
Unfortunately for Andrews, the Ravens, and their fans, it has been just one year since receiver Zay Flowers committed an unfortunate goal-line fumble in the 2023 AFC Championship Game, but for the team on Sunday That faith was not rewarded with an excruciating defeat. It had the absolute firepower to win the Super Bowl.
And while this article was featured on this list of 15 infamous playoff failures, it’s not necessarily exhaustive — oh, there are too many kickers to count — but rather a list of postseason heartbreaks. The purpose is to illustrate that it is all too common to focus on one unlucky play or moment. :
fumble
Ernest Byner was a great player with a great career, and had an incredible career in the 1987 AFC Championship Game in Denver, gaining 187 yards from scrimmage and scoring 2 TDs against the Browns as Cleveland advanced to its first Super Bowl. was spending the day. But a late fumble near the goal line nullified the team’s comeback, sealing a 38-33 loss, one year after the Browns succumbed to Broncos QB John Elway’s “The Drive.” Cleveland has yet to play in Super Sunday.
“That’s my quarterback.”
The 2006 season was Tony Romo’s first season as a starting quarterback in the NFL. The game ended with the Dallas Cowboys’ newest star botching a hold (on a smooth kickball) for a chip-shot field goal, likely defeating the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round and leading the U.S. would have boosted the team. . ah. “That’s my teammate, that’s my quarterback,” Dallas receiver Terrell Owens tearfully said afterward.
junk snap
The New York Giants squandered a 38-14 lead in a wild-card matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in 2002. Still, they would have survived by making a 41-yard field goal on the final play of the game…Veteran Trey Junkin, who had been told to retire to play long snap duties in the postseason, was on the holder’s mat. If I don’t fail to make an offer to Allen. Junkin took the blame for the loss in what turned out to be his last NFL game, but it was too much for his liking.
accident in minnesota
Stefon Diggs’ 61-yard catch-and-run on the final snap of the 2017 divisional round gave the Minnesota Vikings a 29-24 victory in the “Minneapolis Miracle” against New Orleans. That would never happen unless Saints safety Marcus Williams completely whiffed on a tackle on Diggs.
Jackie Smith lost to Super Bowl 13
Wide open in the end zone, eventual Hall of Famer Smith, playing in his final NFL game, dropped a perfect pass from Dallas QB Roger Staubach, leading to the “Steel Curtain” in Pittsburgh. -The game against the Steelers was decided 21-21. Lundquist’s heartfelt response. The Cowboys ultimately lost 35-31.
Russell Wilson’s INT in Super Bowl 49
Extremely important. shocking. Unforgettable. In Super Bowl XLIX, undrafted rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler of the New England Patriots made a rare play, intercepting Wilson at the goal line with 20 seconds left and snatching victory from the brink of defeat. Maintained a 24-point victory. Butler was derailed in the process. Carroll, who began a lifetime of second-guessing against the Seahawks’ dynastic bid and the corps that skewered Seattle coach Pete, told Wilson that running back Marshawn “Beast Mode” had scored early in the game. ” did not instruct Lynch to pass.
right wide
This is where Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood’s 47-yard field goal try (barely) missed with four seconds left in Super Bowl XXV. The Giants hung on for a 20-19 victory, but Buffalo never got closer to the title despite advancing to Super Sunday three more times. Probably the most infamous missed kick in history.
Gary Anderson’s mistake
One of the greatest kickers in league history, he completed all 94 attempts (35 FG, 59 PAT) for the 1998 Minnesota Vikings powerhouse team. That was until Anderson missed a 38-yard field goal try late in the NFC Championship Game. That would have given the Vikes a 10-point lead. The Atlanta Falcons tied it on the ensuing drive and won in overtime.
John Kasay’s kickoff miss
The Carolina Panthers had just tied Super Bowl XXXVIII at 29-29 with 73 seconds left. Kasay then took the kickoff out of bounds, driving Tom Brady and the Patriots to their own 40-yard line. Adam Vinatieri only needed six plays and 37 yards for the kill shot field goal. I promise I won’t tell you any more shocking stories after this.
Marlon McCrea’s take-home gift
The 2006 San Diego Chargers may have rocketed toward the Super Bowl victory the franchise still longs for. The AFC’s top seed this year was poised to take down Brady’s Patriots — especially when McCree picked TB12 on fourth down with the Bolts leading 21-13 as the game approached its final moments. But instead of securing the ball and handing it over to LaDainian Tomlinson’s offense, McCree tried to give it back and was stripped, giving the Pats another down and leading to the game-tying touchdown… and the final Basically, a New England victory.
The wasteful roughness of an old man
Two years ago, the Cincinnati Bengals were looking for their second straight win in the AFC Championship Game on the road in Kansas City. And they…had the 22-year-old pass rusher not hit QB Patrick Mahomes late in his scramble to the sideline, an unnecessary 15-yard roughness penalty would have given the Chiefs the game-winning 45-yard run. in the final seconds that could have set up a field goal.
Ford’s Theater of the Absurd
If the Chiefs had won the 2018 AFC title game against the Patriots, they might have had a shot at winning their second straight Super Bowl. And they almost certainly would have succeeded had pass rusher Dee Ford not been found offside in the final moments. Brady threw an interception that seemed to decide the game, but a gaffe from Ford wiped it out.
roger craig fumble
Speaking of three-peat bids, the 1990 49ers had the incredible talent of becoming the first (and only) team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. The NFC Championship Game loss to the Giants is best remembered for getting QB Joe Montana knocked out (and he would essentially miss the next two seasons with a subsequent elbow injury). ). Still, the Niners would have gone on to win the game had it not been for a rare fumble by running back Roger Craig with less than three minutes remaining that led to the Giants’ game-winning field goal.
fabre out
No player in NFL history has thrown more interceptions than Hall of Famer Brett Favre. But, sorry Vikings fans, nothing is more infamous than his last pass as a Green Bay Packer. An ill-considered toss in overtime of the 2007 NFC Championship Game led to the Giants kicking the game-winning field goal. After 4 plays.
All your NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th Monday newsletter.
Contributions: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, Jim Reineking
***
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X (formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis).