“Bless his heart, he’s got to be the sickest man in America.”

It has been 46 years since the iconic broadcaster Verne Lundquist uttered this remark during Super Bowl 13 after witnessing a mistake by Jackie Smith, a future Hall of Fame tight end. (More on that shortly.)

However, Lundquist’s comment could just as easily describe Baltimore Ravens’ Mark Andrews, another tight end who is a potential Hall of Famer but may unfortunately end up defined by his mistakes rather than his significant NFL achievements.

Andrews experienced the roughest game of his seven-year career last Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. He already had a lost fumble, his first in over five years, in the fourth quarter, which severely hurt the Ravens’ chances of a comeback. But that was just the beginning.

Lamar Jackson, projected to be the MVP, almost equalized the score for Baltimore with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely with just 93 seconds remaining, narrowing Buffalo’s lead to 27-25. A successful two-point conversion would have tied the game, but Andrews, open in the end zone, dropped Jackson’s easily catchable ball right as he neared the pylon and slipped. Simply put, it was an incredibly costly error—one that Andrews might make once in 100 tries? Perhaps even 1,000?

“It’s not his fault,” Jackson stated, defending Andrews. “Everyone contributed to that game’s outcome. It’s a team effort, and we won’t solely blame Mark.”

Andrews’ teammates also provided their support, although he chose not to speak to the media post-game.

“The best tight end in the league,” commented Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum. “There’s nothing more to say. It’s never just about one play. Football is a four-quarter game for a reason, with hundreds of plays. We can’t allow it to hinge on a single moment, and we wholeheartedly believe in Mark.”

Regrettably for Andrews, the Ravens, and their supporters—only a year after receiver Zay Flowers’ unfortunate fumble on the goal line during the 2023 AFC championship—it’s a defeat that stings for a team certainly capable of contending for a Super Bowl title.

This incident now finds its place on a list of 15 infamous playoff missteps, which doesn’t cover every single example—oh, the numerous kicker mishaps we could mention—but rather serves to show how one heartbreaking play or moment can overshadow an entire postseason:

The fumble

Earnest Byner enjoyed a fantastic career and was playing exceptionally well in the 1987 AFC championship game against Denver, amassing 187 total yards and two touchdowns as the Browns sought their first Super Bowl appearance. Unfortunately, his late fumble near the goal line derailed the team’s comeback, leading to a heartbreaking 38-33 loss, just a year after they famously fell to “The Drive” orchestrated by Broncos QB John Elway. Cleveland still has yet to play in the Super Bowl.

‘That’s my quarterback’

The 2006 season marked Tony Romo’s inaugural stint as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. It ended dramatically when Romo mishandled the hold on a slick ball for what seemed to be a sure field goal—one that likely would have secured a win over the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round. Tearful Dallas receiver Terrell Owens famously said, “That’s my teammate, that’s my quarterback,” afterward.

Junk snap

In a wild-card game in 2002, the New York Giants squandered a 38-14 lead against the San Francisco 49ers. They could have survived if not for veteran long snapper Trey Junkin’s disastrous snap that led to a missed 41-yard field goal in the last seconds of the game. Junkin took the blame for this error, marking a grim end to his NFL career.

Minnesota mishap

Stefon Diggs’ dramatic 61-yard catch-and-run during the last play of the 2017 divisional round gifted the Minnesota Vikings a stunning 29-24 win over New Orleans, known as the “Minneapolis Miracle.” But the play only occurred because Saints safety Marcus Williams completely missed his tackle on Diggs, allowing the miracle to unfold.

Jackie Smith’s drop in Super Bowl 13

Wide open in the end zone during what would be his final NFL game, Jackie Smith dropped a perfect pass from Cowboys QB Roger Staubach. This unfortunate moment would have tied the game against the formidable Pittsburgh Steelers at 21-21, causing Lundquist’s now-famous comment. Ultimately, the Cowboys lost 35-31.

Russell Wilson’s INT in Super Bowl 49

A shocking and pivotal moment, undrafted Patriots rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler made a rare play by intercepting Russell Wilson at the goal line with just 20 seconds left, preserving the Patriots’ 28-24 victory in Super Bowl 49. This interception effectively ended the Seahawks’ bid for dominance and sparked a wave of second-guessing, particularly aimed at Seattle’s coach Pete Carroll for not directing Wilson to simply hand off to running back Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, who had scored earlier.

Wide right

Scott Norwood, the Buffalo kicker, suffered the agony of watching his 47-yard field-goal attempt go wide right with just four seconds remaining in Super Bowl 25. The Giants held on to win 20-19, and Buffalo would never come closer to a championship despite reaching the Super Bowl three more times. This remains perhaps the most notorious missed kick in NFL history.

Gary Anderson’s miss

As one of the greatest kickers in NFL history, Gary Anderson was perfect on all 94 of his attempts (35 field goals, 59 PATs) with the powerful 1998 Minnesota Vikings—until he missed a crucial 38-yard field goal late in the NFC championship game that would have given the Vikings a comfortable 10-point lead. The Atlanta Falcons capitalized, tying the game and eventually winning in overtime.

John Kasay’s errant kickoff

After tying Super Bowl 38 at 29-29 with just over a minute remaining, Panthers kicker John Kasay kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, allowing Tom Brady and the Patriots to start at their own 40-yard line. They only needed six plays and 37 yards to set up Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning field goal. Promise—no more kicker stories after this.

Marlon McCree’s takeaway giveaway

The 2006 San Diego Chargers had a significant chance to secure the Super Bowl win that evaded them. They were leading 21-13 against Brady’s Patriots when McCree intercepted Tom Brady on fourth down late in the game. Instead of sealing the interception and giving the ball to the offense led by LaDainian Tomlinson, McCree attempted to return it and was stripped of the ball. This miscue allowed the Patriots to drive for a game-tying touchdown and ultimately a victory.

Ossai’s unnecessary unnecessary roughness

Two years ago, the Cincinnati Bengals were vying for their second consecutive AFC championship on the road against Kansas City. They might have succeeded if their 22-year-old pass rusher hadn’t hit QB Patrick Mahomes late during a scramble for the sideline. The resulting 15-yard penalty for useless roughness set the stage for the Chiefs’ game-winning 45-yard field goal in the dying moments.

Ford’s theater of the absurd

The Chiefs could have been seeking a third consecutive Super Bowl title had they secured a victory in the 2018 AFC championship against the Patriots. They were close to achieving this until pass rusher Dee Ford was called offsides in the last minute, negating what appeared to be a game-sealing interception thrown by Brady.

Roger Craig’s fumble

Speaking of three-peat aspirations, the 1990 49ers had a strong chance to be the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row. Their defeat against the Giants in the NFC championship game is often remembered due to QB Joe Montana being sidelined (missing almost two full seasons because of a following elbow injury). However, the Niners could have won if RB Roger Craig hadn’t fumbled with just under three minutes remaining, allowing the Giants to clinch the game-winning field goal.

Favre out

No one in NFL history has thrown more interceptions than Hall of Famer Brett Favre. Yet, of all his interceptions, none is more notorious than his last pass as a Green Bay Packer—an ill-timed throw during overtime in the 2007 NFC championship game that was intercepted by the Giants, who scored the winning field goal just four plays later.

Contributing: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

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Follow YSL News Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.