Ravens hand Broncos their first loss of the season
It was over when ...
(Nick Wass / Associated Press)
Joe Flacco connected with Derrick Mason on a 20-yard touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The score put Baltimore up 23-7, plenty enough cushion for an inspired defense that had its best performance of the season.
Game ball
Lardarius Webb made only one significant play, but it changed the course of the game. In their first six games, the Broncos had outscored their opponents 76-10 after halftime. Webb's 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the third quarter, however, eliminated any sense of Denver's second-half invincibility and put the Ravens up 13-0.
Key Stat
The Broncos crossed into Ravens territory just three times, and got into the red zone just once. Such a lack of offensive production proved impossible to overcome for Denver's formidable defense.
Noteworthy
Denver suffered its first loss of the season after starting 6-0. ... Elvis Dumervil entered the game as the AFC-leader in sacks with 10, but failed to bring down Flacco. ... Ravens DT Haloti Ngata left the game with an ankle injury and did not return. ... The Ravens were 11-of-18 on third down.
