“We’re always constantly working on different things and variations of certain things to keep the defense honest, and it was a perfect scenario to pull that out there,” Andrews said.
“I think the guys just executed really well. [We were] just trying to be versatile in that package, and it was a great play call. It felt great to get in the end zone.”
Trusted in the high-pressure situations, burly, and relentless, Andrews has been the man called upon to take the Ravens’ direct snaps the past few seasons. He’s often been successful plowing straight ahead, but for the second time in as many weeks, the Ravens put a spin on the traditional “tush push” – this time, literally.
Andrews took the snap and turned as if he was going to pitch it to Lamar Jackson, just like he did last Sunday to pick up a key first down in Minnesota. Except this time, Andrews did a 180 and kept it himself, running off the right side of the Ravens’ offensive line.
The inside of the Browns defense crashed the middle – as it has to. Browns safety Ronnie Hickman ran himself out of the play by following the fake toss to Jackson with Derrick Henry as a fake lead blocker. The Browns’ other safety, Grant Delpit, was so caught off guard by the play that it made for an easy block for Ricard.
“By the time I got on him, I don’t know if he really knew what was happening,” Ricard said. “I didn’t either.”
The Ravens only added “Hurricane” to the playbook this week. Ricard said they only practiced it a couple of times.
Yet, with the game on the line, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken dialed it up. Andrews looked across the line of scrimmage at what the Browns defense was doing and stuck with it.
“That was crazy,” Jackson said. “I was celebrating the whole time. We were practicing [the play] earlier on in the week, and it was looking pretty good. We just needed a couple yards, but for [Andrews] to go for a touchdown; that was amazing.”
As Ricard opened one side, Charlie Kolar sealed the edge, and Andrews had a big hole to gallop through. He hit the jets, outrunning Browns rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger and hitting 20.09 mph on the scamper to the end zone — Andrews’ top speed of his career, according to Next Gen Stats.
“I know that I can kind of kick up when I need to,” Andrews said. “That end zone looked sweet, and it was awesome getting in there for the team.”