Football
Associated Press 17y

Stover's field goal gives Ravens 3-0 lead after first quarter

DENVER -- The defenses of Baltimore and Denver dominated on
a cool, damp Monday night, and the Ravens and Broncos went into the
fourth quarter with a 3-3 tie.

Denver had three first downs and three punts in the third
quarter. In Baltimore's three drives, the Ravens moved the chains
only once.

Baltimore's defense has allowed just three points in the second
half all year on its way to the first 4-0 start in franchise
history.

The Ravens caught a break midway through the third quarter when
Steve McNair fumbled on the Ravens 14 after a hit by Michael Myers
but center Mike Flynn fell on the ball.

Just before halftime, Baltimore had the ball on the Broncos
10-yard line and McNair tried to force a third-down lob pass to
receiver Clarence Moore in the right corner with 30 seconds left.
Champ Bailey, who had just been burned for a 26-yard gain, read it
correctly and picked off his first pass of the season.

The game was billed as a battle of two of the top defenses in
the league and the first half lived up to the hype. Both teams
struggled to move the ball, but Elam's field goal with 4:54 left in
the second quarter tied it at 3.

In cold rain and a thin layer of fog, the Ravens had 149 yards
of total offense at halftime, and Denver had just 68.

The Broncos' offense, held to 9 yards of total offense in the
first quarter, was given a boost by Darrent Williams' 33-yard punt
return to the Ravens' 42. Tatum Bell, whose fumble in the first
quarter set up Baltimore's field goal, helped move the ball to the
25-yard line, where Jake Plummer misconnected with David Kircus on
a third-and-7 play.

In McNair's first game against the Broncos in his 12-year
career, the Ravens took a 3-0 lead after one quarter on Matt
Stover's 24-yard field goal following the first of Denver's two
turnovers.

Chris McAlister recovered Bell's fumble at the Broncos' 40-yard
line, setting up the score.

Bell gathered in a screen pass along the sideline, but a hit by
Terrell Suggs jarred the ball free. McAlister scooped up the fumble
and tightroped the sideline to keep two feet in before falling out
of bounds. The Ravens are plus-10 in turnover differential this
season.

Plummer was picked off for the fifth time this season when he
overthrew Javon Walker and Samari Rolle gathered in the long pass.

With the game-time temperature a chilly 39 degrees and steady
rain falling, Plummer played with a glove on his throwing hand,
which he's experimented with at times this season.

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