Despite their reputation for wild antics, Buffalo Bills supporters have united to support an opposing player when he received a barrage of hate mail online this week rather than climbing on tables.
Mark Andrews, a tight end for the Baltimore Ravens, fumbled and then missed a two-point conversion that would have knotted the score in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s pivotal playoff game between the Bills and the Ravens. In the end, the Bills prevailed 27–25 and will play the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.
After the game, video showed Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson comforting Andrews, who seemed devastated.
“We’re a team,” stated Jackson. “It’s all of us, bruh, it ain’t just you.”
In interviews after the defeat, Jackson and head coach John Harbaugh both backed the tight end. Reminding reporters that he was responsible for two first-half turnovers, Jackson also mentioned that Andrews had been “battling all season.”
Andrews, according to Harbaugh, is a tough, morally upright individual who he was sure would manage the criticism effectively. The coach went on to say that, like all the players, he was proud of Andrews.
“There s nobody that has more heart, and cares more, and fights more than Mark,” Harbaugh stated. “We wouldn t be here without Mark Andrews.”
However, Ravens supporters still vented their ire, leaving a deluge of bitter remarks on Andrews’ Instagram page. In his most recent post, which was published in November for National Diabetes Awareness Month, Andrews talked about the continuous glucose monitoring device he uses to manage his Type 1 diabetes.
Some referred to him as a “disappointment” and others implied that they would physically attack Andrews if they saw him, while others called for his contract to be terminated in the comment area. In the comments, there were also encouraging admirers who urged Andrews to keep going.