Ravens TE Entering 'Make-Or-Break Season'

There was 1:33 left in the fourth quarter of the Divisional Round matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.

Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely just caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to silence the home crowd and narrow the Bills' lead to 27-25. A two-point conversion was all that stood between a tie game and possible overtime or a season-ending loss for the Ravens.

On the ensuing conversion attempt, Jackson found Mark Andrews wide open on the right side of the end zone and threw a perfect spiral that hit Andrews right in the numbers ... just before the ball hit the turf. 

The normally sure-handed Andrews flat-out dropped the pass.

It was out of character for Andrews, who registered just four drops all season with a 5.8 percent drop rate. But he could be due for a "make-or-break" season per Damian Parson with Bleacher Report.

"Mark Andrews' 2024 season came to a screeching stop in one of the worst ways possible. Against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, the veteran tight end dropped the would-be game-tying two-point conversion in the Ravens' divisional-round loss," Parson wrote. "His night against Buffalo would've been great if not for the drop and costly fumble. Nonetheless, Andrews finished the season second in targets and third in receiving yards for Baltimore. According to NFL Pro, the 29-year-old ran more than 10 routes each game, and after Week 5 he was targeted on 23 percent of his routes.

"... Jackson relies upon Andrews' talents and consistency. Will he take a step back, with teammate Isaiah Likely taking the reins as the new TE1? Possibly. Regardless, Andrews must be utilized and factored into the passing attack this season. He turns 30 at the beginning of the season, but if he plays the way we're accustomed to, he should earn a contract extension."

As Likely continues to improve, it doesn't seem long before he takes over the TE1 job from Andrews. The former Oklahoma tight end enters the final year of his four-year, $56 million deal and has a cap hit of almost $17 million.

That could spell cut or trade for the seven-year veteran.