Ravens All-Pro poised to break a franchise record in Week 15 against Giants

Three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews is one score away from becoming the team’s all-time leader in touchdowns from scrimmage.

Through the first month of the regular season, the sky was falling for fantasy owners of Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews after his uncharacteristically slow start. The three-time Pro Bowler only had six receptions for 65 receiving yards and no touchdowns over that span, including back-to-back zero-reception outings in Weeks 3 and 4, a career-first.

Andrews’ not-so-hot start was completely understandable considering his severe injury last season, August car accident, and minor injury during training camp.

Since getting healthy, the seventh-year veteran has been on a tear, reeling in a team-leading seven touchdowns in the Ravens’ last eight games. His incredible 14-yard jump-ball touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles brought his career total to 47, tying him with legendary franchise running back Jamal Lewis for most from scrimmage in team history.

Andrews can break Lewis’ record in Week 15 against the 2-11 New York Giants. He has been the most consistent pass-catcher for the Ravens since his rookie season in 2018, even when Lamar Jackson hasn’t been in the lineup.

Head coach John Harbaugh was full of praise for his star tight end on Wednesday:

Mark Andrews is just one of a kind…He’s all ball; he’s all ball all the time…That’s really who he is. As a coach, you kind of like that. You kind of like players that breathe it, and live it, and eat it, and want to be part of it and can’t wait to get back out on the practice field. That’s what it takes. If you want to be at the top of any profession [or] you want to be at the top of football, you better be thinking about football and working at football all the time.

When Jackson is healthy, Andrews is his favorite target, dating back to their shared rookie year. The two-time MVP was asked how long it took to establish the seemingly-boundless trust between the duo – the kind that makes Jackson target Andrews despite double- and triple-coverage, especially in the red zone.

“Going back to [the] Chargers [game in 2018], I threw [Mark Andrews] a line route between the safety and the backer, and Mark took caught it and just hauled tail,” Jackson said. “After that, it was like, ‘Yes, that’s my guy right there. That’s my guy.’”

Jackson loves Andrews’ contested catch and ball-tracking abilities.

“I feel like anybody [who] guards him, I have a shot at having a successful catch with Mark,” Jackson said. “Him just being who he is since we first stepped foot in the league, he’s just made my job a lot easier. I always say that.”

Andrews’ playmaking comes from his fundamental desire to win. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken says one of Andrews’ most admirable attributes is his “competitiveness.”

“He’s an elite competitor,” Monken said Thursday. “I think that’s the best way to put it. Football is important to him. Everything we do is important to him; meetings are important to him, his body is important to him, how he plays, so he’s a top, top level competitor – one of the top competitors I’ve ever been around.”

Even if Andrews doesn’t find the end zone on Sunday against the Giants, it’s only a matter of time before he breaks Lewis’ record.