Chris Simms on the Up & Adams Show discussing Mark Andrews' drop against the Bills Photo Credit: FanDuel TV
By Reice Shipley on

Following the Baltimore Ravens loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in the NFL’s Divisional Round, most pundits placed the majority of blame on Ravens tight end Mark Andrews for the loss after two critical late-game errors. But on Monday, NBC NFL analyst Chris Simms explained why Andrews is not the only Raven to blame for the failed two-point conversation that likely would have sent the game to overtime.

After Lamar Jackson led the Ravens 88 yards down the field to bring the game within two points, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken seemingly drew up the perfect play for a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game at 27.

Mark Andrews found himself wide open on the goal line. But inexplicably, he was unable to haul in the pass from Lamar Jackson. It would then take just one first down from the Bills’ offense to end the game and set up a Bills-Chiefs AFC Championship game.

Andrews, who also lost a fumble in the third quarter, has since been the center of criticism on social media. So much so that he opted not to speak to the media after Sunday’s game.

It was a pass that Andrews simply had to catch. But during an appearance on the Up & Adams show on Monday, Chris Simms raised the argument that Lamar Jackson didn’t do Andrews any favors with the pass on the play, which he claimed was “not accurate.”

“Right here, this is perfect,” said Simms of the play call, which was shown on Up & Adams. “Throw it! Throw it! Throw it! It’s too late. Lamar Jackson is making $55 million a year. That ball needs to be on time and it was not accurate. Mark Andrews needs to catch it, don’t get me wrong. But Lamar Jackson is making $55 million a year and he double-clutched it and threw it like a dart.

“This play is open. This was the perfect play call. So we can’t get mad at Todd Monken. What I’m saying is Mark Andrews in his meeting in Baltimore is going to get a negative grade for the drop. But also in Lamar Jackson’s meeting with his quarterbacks coach and his offensive coordinator, he is gonna get a negative grade for this throw. He is, it was late, he didn’t throw it with the same authority he usually throws it. He made it as hard as it could possibly be for a wide-open touchdown.”

If you are going to blame Jackson for anything in this game, one could easily point to his two first-half turnovers that dug the Ravens a hole that they couldn’t crawl out of.

But for Simms to blame Jackson for a pass that hit Andrews directly in the hands is certainly a bold opinion. As you may expect, many fellow media members didn’t exactly agree with Simms’ take.

“Ain’t no way in the world man! This is so unserious,” wrote ESPN’s Marcus Spears on X.

“I’m just going to say it, Chris Simms is not only stupid but I truly believe that there is underlying reasoning for his view of things like this. He’s more about hot takes than actual analysis,” wrote Rushard D. Anderson of the Washington Post.

“Sir it was right in between the numbers,” wrote ESPN’s Liam Beatus.

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.

View all posts by Reice Shipley