Ravens' Lamar Jackson again defends Mark Andrews over mistakes in playoff loss

Quarterback Lamar Jackson was one of several Baltimore Ravens players who came to the defense of Mark Andrews this past January after the tight end committed a pair of costly mistakes in Baltimore's 27-25 divisional-round playoff loss at the Buffalo Bills.

While speaking with reporters at the Ravens' mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, Jackson once again went to bat for one of his favorite targets. 

"I've been seeing my guy be getting talked about, and I really don't like that because he's done so much for us," Jackson said, as shared by Bobby Kownack of the NFL's website. "He's done so much for us, and how people did him, I just don't like that. 'Cause Mark is still Mark, for sure, no doubt."

Andrews spent much of the spring as the subject of trade rumors after he lost a fumble near midfield in the fourth quarter of the Buffalo contest and then dropped a pass on what would have been a game-tying two-point conversion with 1:33 remaining in regulation. While Andrews remains in the final year of his contract, there's no indication the Ravens will release or trade him before training camp gets underway in July. 

"He's accomplished so much for us and himself," Jackson added. "I feel like, just let things happen sometimes. We wish we would've won the game. I wish I didn't throw that interception. I wish I didn't fumble. I wish the mishap didn't happen, but it happened. It's a lesson learned, man, so next time, we'll do something better."

Jackson is a two-time MVP, but he fell to 3-5 as a postseason starter in January. The Ravens will open the upcoming campaign with a "Sunday Night Football" matchup at none other than the Bills on Sept. 7.

"We're going to bounce back," Jackson said about how Baltimore will respond to its latest playoff heartbreak. "We'll come back, and I feel like we're gonna have vengeance on our mind."

As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Ravens and Bills as the co-favorites at +350 betting odds to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LX this coming February. One wonders if the Week 1 showdown between the clubs will ultimately determine which team hosts the next AFC Championship Game.