Tag: Mark Andrews

Ravens WR Zay Flowers is still faster than Speedy Gonzales

Having come so close to the Super Bowl last year, Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers has hope in his team for the 2025 NFL playoffs.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has his eyes on the prize headed into NFL Week 18. Flowers knows that his team has already clinched a playoff berth, and his speedy Gonzales agility will likely cause headaches for opponents who have to deal with the high-scoring Ravens offense this post-season.

However, Flowers won’t be moving too fast in his sophomore playoff effort. He will likely remember the disappointing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 AFC Championship last season when he had a fumble he might never forget.

Heading into NFL Week 18, Flowers has already totaled 1,047 receiving yards, 73 receptions, and 14.3 yards per catch. Flowers makes his presence felt as the Ravens leading receiver, playing in an offensive strategy primarily focused on running the football with star Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson. Flowers doesn’t mind not getting the ball every play, but instead, it is all about relishing his opportunities.

In the Ravens’ way stand powerhouses: the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Pittsburgh Steelers, who defeated the Ravens earlier this season in November. However, neither Flowers nor his teammates are afraid to face these AFC foes. They believe they have the manpower to defeat any opponent their fate yields.

Isaiah Likely, Mark Andrews both catch red-zone touchdowns in Ravens win

Baltimore Ravens TE’s Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews both pose as serious red-zone targets for QB Lamar Jackson in the offense.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson converted touchdown passes to both tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely in the team win over the Houston Texans on Christmas.

A glance at the stat sheet shows that neither player was targeted numerous times yesterday, but their ability to create mismatches in the red zone makes them prime targets for Jackson when it matters most.


Size, speed, and versatility make Both Likely and Andrews easily deployable in the Ravens’ offense. NFL analysts have already stressed that offensive coordinator Todd Monken should use more 12-person packaging, and it’s pretty obvious why.

Andrews and Likely both work as effective pass blockers and help the true identity of the team offense, which relies on running back Derrick Henry and the ground game.



Ultimately, with Henry thriving, opponents have to account for the threat of the run. This allows Andrew and Likely to exploit undersized opposing linebackers and safeties.

Beyonce shines for Netflix on Christmas Day: Top photos from Ravens win over Texans

Top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 31-2 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day in front of Beyonce on Netflix

Some thought Baltimore had peaked too soon after its 24-19 loss to the Eagles, but the Ravens have been 3-0 since then, and they have had a much-needed bye week.

A team unsure about their AFC North status can win the division in Week 18 after an impressive 31-2 win over Houston on Christmas Day in front of Beyonce and a monstrous Netflix audience.

Lamar Jackson was 10-15 passing for 168 yards, two touchdowns, and a 143.9 rating.  As a rusher, Jackson carried the ball four times for 87 yards and a touchdown, moving past Michael Vick on the NFL’s all-time rushing yards list for a quarterback.

With preparation for the Browns set to begin, we’re looking at the top photos from Christmas Night.

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Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-2 lead over Texans on Christmas Day

Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-2 lead over Texans on Christmas Day

The Ravens can smell a division title. After watching the Steelers fall to the Chiefs in the earlier game, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have Baltimore rolling through one half in Houston. With Beyonce and Post Malone in the building, the Ravens jumped out to a 17-2 lead on the back of Jackson’s arm, Henry’s strong running, and a stingy defense that improves each week. Baltimore held Houston to 125 yards of total offense in the first half, and if not for a Texans safety, it would have been on its way to blowing out the host team on Netflix. With the second half set to begin and Beyonce’s incredible performance just finished, here are sights and sounds from the first half. ****

Ravens OC Todd Monken needs to stop trying to be Albert Einstein

Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken is a genius. but his pass-play obsession almost cost his team big time versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is a genius. Still, his obsessive need to devise the most dynamic pass play almost cost his team big in NFL Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.


With a 24-17 lead, the Ravens had just yielded a 44-yard run with running back Derrick Henry, with the team looking at 1st & 10 from the Steelers’ 11-yard line. Still, Monken had to revert to a passing play, even in the most apparent running scenario.

A shortened field made it relatively easy for the Steelers’ defense to sink into zone coverage. Monken’s shallow crosser concept led to an interception by safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who undercut wide receiver Rashod Bateman.

Sure, quarterback Lamar Jackson threw the interception, but he operated in a sequence provided to him from upstairs. Jackson’s rhythmic play style and humility won’t ever lead him to combat the play-calling, but I’m sure he didn’t like having a bloody hand after having to tackle Fitzpatrick on the interception return.


Monken’s eagerness should remind us that this is only his second season as an offensive coordinator in the NFL. Hopefully, head coach John Harbaugh will seize from the clouded charismatic speeches and finally directly address Monken before decisions become too costly. If not for defensive back Marlon Humphrey’s epic interception, the Ravens might have dropped this critical game.

Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-10 lead over the Steelers

Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-10 lead over the Steelers

It wasn’t a pretty start, but the Ravens again held a halftime lead over the Steelers, 17-10, with 30 minutes left to play at M&T Bank Stadium.

Baltimore had 201 yards of offense and went 2-5 on third downs in the first half. Pittsburgh has 170 yards of offense, 2-4 on third down, and one turnover in a highly intense first half.

With the second half set to begin, here are sights and sounds from the first half.

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WATCH: Mark Andrews passes Jamal Lewis for 1st on Ravens all-time touchdowns list

Mark Andrews is Ravens all-time touchdowns leader after passing Jamal Lewis in Week 15 against the New York Giants

Mark Andrews entered Sunday on the brink of Baltimore Ravens franchise history.   A future Hall of Famer at tight end, Andrews was one touchdown away from breaking a tie with running back Jamal Lewis for the most total touchdowns scored in Ravens career history.

Andrews made history late in the first quarter with a 13-yard touchdown catch from Lamar Jackson to put Baltimore up 7-0.

Andrews has eight touchdown catches in his last six games and was reborn after discussions about whether Isaiah Likely had passed him on the depth chart.

Andrews entered the game with 43 catches for 490 yards and seven touchdowns on the season.

Zay Flowers needs spacing, Ravens work best out of 12 & 13 personnel

Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers would greatly benefit if OC Todd Monken used more 12 personnel to grant him spacing on the outside.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is nearly impossible to cover on an island with NFL defensive backs.

However, suppose offensive coordinator Todd Monken keeps crowding the boundary with two and three wide receiver sets. In that case, he limits the space Flowers has to work, allowing teams to use shell and disguise coverage effectively.  

In 21, 12, and 13 personnel, opponents have to match the Ravens with 4-3 base, 3-4, and Nickel packages to account for the run. Furthermore, with running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson posing serious ground threats, these personnel groups allow the play-action pass with Flowers to be lethal.

Sure, it’s just a broken play. One Monken can’t brag about to his expert comrades. However, the probability of these explosive plays is proven.

Flowers is averaging 14.4 yards per catch this season on just 60 receptions. Thus, sequencing in deep and intermediate throws to Flowers while prioritizing the running game in 21, 12, and 13 personnel has been adequate. Monken’s lust for a pass-heavy offense has to be seized if the Ravens want a chance late in the season. Instead, he should enjoy the bliss of sporadically getting chunk plays with Flowers. 

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is 8-5 but the flock is very much alive

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has been impeccable this season and team shortcomings won’t waver his leadership or confidence.

At 8-5, the Baltimore Ravens may have lost favor in the eyes of many, but they still have quarterback Lamar Jackson and a roster stacked full of competent talent ready to compete with top teams in the NFL.

Through 14 weeks, Jackson has thrown 29 touchdown passes, ranking second behind Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (33) for the most this season. Mistakes have been minimal for Jackson; he’s yielded just three interceptions, which arguably weren’t his fault but the result of dropped passes by his teammates. 

Despite team shortcomings, Jackson has continued the same optimism he had after losing the AFC Championship on January 28. This time, however, losses haven’t fallen primarily on his shoulders but have been primarily outside of his control.

Upcoming home AFC North matchups with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers may be a testament to Jackson’s ability to turn things around, but first, the Ravens must take care of business against the New York Giants in Week 15.

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Ravens WR Diontae Johnson wants to complain so let Tylan Wallace work

While Baltimore Ravens WR Diontae Johnson act unseemly, WR Tylan Wallace has already proven himself to be an asset on offense.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson might think he’s cooler than the other side of the pillow, but the team won’t lose sleep in his absence.

Instead, the Ravens should be focused on developing rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker and playing reserve Tylan Wallace more frequently.

Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken has had both Walker and Wallace operating in reps with the starters, yet Walker hasn’t played much throughout the season. Could that change in the upcoming weeks?

Wallace had a big play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 7 and may be an adequate target for quarterback Lamar Jackson on underneath throws. Walker, on the other hand, is more sizable and may work to take the top of the defense off on vertical route concepts. 

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Johnson was never needed, yet the Ravens have become too idealistic in their approach, assuming that Johnson was humble enough to be moderately used. Instead, Johnson’s gesture indicates that he might not have been the player the Ravens needed when they acquired him.

Hopefully, the Ravens will return to using 12 and 21 personnel packages more frequently on offense. Instead of saturating the field with three wide receiver sets, Monken should focus on using tight-ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, coupling them with two wide receiver sets that will force defenses to play more man coverage.

Ultimately, Walker and Wallace have just as much talent as Johnson, and it’s time for the Ravens’ coaching staff to get out of their way.