Joe Flacco threw for 175 yards and a
touchdown, and the Baltimore Ravens used a stifling display on defense to hand
the previously unbeaten Denver Broncos a 30-7 loss at M&T Bank Stadium.
Flacco connected on 20-of-25 passes to tie a franchise record for completion
percentage, while Ray Rice rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown to help
Baltimore (4-3) halt a frustrating three-game losing streak and deal the AFC
West-leading Broncos (6-1) their first defeat after six straight wins under
first-year head coach Josh McDaniels. Rookie Lardarius Webb added a 95-yard
kick return touchdown in the convincing victory.
The story of the afternoon, however, was the performance of the Baltimore
defense. The Ravens limited Denver to 200 total yards -- including a mere 134
net yards through the air, with Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton managing only
152 yards on 23-of-37 passing. He was also sacked twice.
Flacco's 80-percent completion rate matched a Ravens single-game mark most
recently set by Elvis Grbac, who went 16-for-20 in a 24-14 loss at Cleveland
on October 21, 2001.
Baltimore outscored Denver by a 24-7 margin after intermission. The Broncos
had yielded only 10 points in the second half and overtime during their six
wins.
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