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Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has been activated ahead of the AFC Championship game versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
That means Lamar Jackson is getting his best weapon back and it can be a game-changer.
This is a huge deal as the Ravens are going to have both of their talented tight ends suited up and ready to help propel them to a Super Bowl berth.
Isaiah Likely has filled in admirably in Andrews' absence. Since Andrews' injury, Likely has 322 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. He is averaging 54 receiving yards per game during that six-game span.
Two tight-end sets are dangerous
Adding Andrews back into this Ravens offense can allow coach Todd Monken to use their two tight end sets. Being able to deploy two talented tight ends is a chef's kiss for an offense.
This personnel package grouping puts opposing defenses in turmoil for multiple reasons.
- The threat of both run & pass
- Forcing teams to stay in nickel or go into more base sets
- Ability to flex/move weapons around to create mismatches in coverage
Listen to former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski speak on the topic as a guest Kay Adams' show Up & Adams:
"If you have a 1-2 punch at the tight end position ... it's the hardest personnel group to defend in the game of football."
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) January 24, 2024
Gronk on Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely potentially playing together on Sunday #Ravens #KCvsBAL@RobGronkowski @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/xb5CXM4s5D
Lamar Jackson thrives out of 12-personnel
When the Ravens use 12-personnel Jackson is efficient and effective as a passer. Remember, I informed you about how he has become one of the best intermediate passers in the league, right?
He slices and dices defenses up between the hashes if given the chance.
Jackson has the third-best passer rating working out of 12-personnel packages. So, the return of Andrews to the offensive lineup should give a confidence boost for Jackson and the Ravens' passing offense.
The Chiefs' defense is predominately zone-oriented and plays middle-of-the-field open coverages (two-high safeties). If Monken attacks them with both Andrews and Likely, especially early in the game, this could spell trouble for Kansas City. Yahoo Sports' Matt Harmon broke this down on his podcast (below).
Lamar Jackson has been an extremely efficient passer out of 12 personnel this season, which is important with Mark Andrews coming back for the AFC Championship. pic.twitter.com/xarJMT5rm1
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) January 26, 2024
Coach Monken did not use them both earlier in the season with high levels of production. It was also the beginning of everyone learning the new offense and Monken learning his new weapons.
If he calls 12-personnel effectively versus the Chiefs' defense, this offense should find a rhythm early and start faster than last week versus the Houston Texans.
More must-reads:
- Bengals exec declines Patriots interview for de facto GM job
- Longtime Saints OL, three-time Pro Bowler agrees to deal with AFC West team
- The 'NFL MVP runners-up' quiz
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