Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) – Ray Rice rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries and Baltimore scored the game’s first 17 points en route to a 31-17 triumph over Denver at M&T Bank Stadium.
Willis McGahee added a 30-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and the Ravens piled up a season-high 233 yards on the ground in posting their third straight victory. The win gave Baltimore (4-1) sole possession of first place in the AFC’s North Division, one half-game ahead of idle Pittsburgh.
Quarterback Joe Flacco also had a rushing touchdown for the Ravens and completed 14-of-25 passes for 196 yards. Baltimore amassed 415 total yards and 28 first downs on the afternoon, while controlling the football for 36 minutes and 17 seconds.
Denver’s Kyle Orton threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, his third straight outing with over 300 passing yards in a game. Brandon Lloyd hauled in both of Orton’s scoring strikes and finished with 135 yards on five catches.
Jabar Gaffney had a game-high nine catches totaling 87 yards for Denver (2-3), which came into the contest off a 26-20 road win at Tennessee.