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Playoff Mistakes Won't 'Define Me!' Says Ravens Zay Flowers

Originally posted on FanNation Raven Country
By Adam Schultz | Last updated 1/30/24

The Baltimore Ravens season came to an end at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC Championship game. While there is plenty of blame to go around for the Ravens, rookie Zay Flowers is copping the brunt of it.

In the second half, after a sublime 54-yard catch, Flowers was then flagged for taunting as the Ravens were pushed back 15 yards.

But while Flowers rectified his mistake by getting a 14-yard completion shortly after, his next mistake was a brutal one as he fumbled near the endzone and the ball went out for a touchback and the Ravens got nothing from a promising drive.

While there has been plenty of commentary on what Flowers did at M&T Bank Stadium, as he was clearing out his locker, he stated that he's determined not to let what transpired on Sunday break him.

“I mean everybody text me," Flowers said. "Everybody text me, it's you know you going to have just a moment, it's going to make or break you and I don't plan on letting it break me.”

That is a strong mentality from the rookie star, but the gravity of his mistakes in the playoffs is amplified.

The Ravens could have done with any points on that third-quarter drive but came away with nothing, and thus the team had to again try and establish some momentum.

That didn't happen as Mahomes and the Chiefs did what they needed to do down the stretch as they marched into yet another Super Bowl.

As for Flowers, who had a superb rookie season, he still feels he has new levels to reach going forward and is going to use the pain of the AFC Championship loss as a springboard into the offseason.

“I feel like I got another step,” Flowers said. “I feel like I could be one of the best receivers in this league and I'm not going to let one moment define me so I'm going just use that and use it as a slingshot.”

Everything was set up for the Ravens to make their first Super Bowl appearance since 2012. They were in good form, at home and facing a Chiefs team many thought they were better than.

But that's not how football works and with the stakes so high, any mistake is punished and the Ravens, along with Flowers had too many that ultimately led to their downfall.

And that is something they'll have to live with all offseason.

This article first appeared on FanNation Raven Country and was syndicated with permission.

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