Tom Brady, Fans Question Ravens’ Failed Tush Push with Mark Andrews over Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry is a powerful back and one of the most dominant players of his generation who is seemingly the perfect option to give the ball on the goal line.

Yet the Baltimore Ravens decided to go a different route during its final possession of the first half of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

After reaching the Los Angeles 1-yard line, the Ravens attempted two consecutive tush pushes with tight end Mark Andrews. The Rams stuffed him on both attempts and were then ready to stop Henry on the ensuing fourth down.

“They got [Derrick Henry], who I would probably want to just give him the ball,” Tom Brady said in his analyst role on Fox Sports. “And I love Mark Andrews. It’s just a hard thing, you don’t practice it that much.” 

The sequence drew plenty of reaction on social media:

That Henry played so well in the first half only made the sequence all the more confusing.

The five-time Pro Bowler had 90 rushing yards by intermission and was largely carrying a Ravens offense that is playing without injured quarterback Lamar Jackson for the second straight game.

Los Angeles deserves plenty of credit as well, as it stuffed the middle of the line and didn’t give Andrews any space to successfully run the tush push. It even appeared to force a fumble on the third-down attempt, but officials ruled forward progress and blew the play dead.

When Baltimore lined up in a traditional look for fourth down, it was far too obvious that Henry would be getting the ball after the previous two failed attempts. The Rams were not fooled and forced a turnover on downs much to the chagrin of the frustrated fans.

Frustration has been the predominant emotion for the Ravens this season, who are off to a 1-4 start and look nothing like the Super Bowl contender they hoped to be at the start of the campaign.

Injuries are a large part of the issue, but poor play calling and missed opportunities like the one in the first half against the Rams aren’t helping.

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