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Defense, Stover propel Ravens over winless Rams

Oct 14, 2007 - 10:04 PM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Although their offense continues to sputter, the Baltimore Ravens' defense is clicking on all cylinders.

The defense set a franchise record with five interceptions and Matt Stover kicked five field goals in the Ravens' 22-3 victory over the winless St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

The Ravens gave Rams quarterback Gus Frerotte fits, forcing a fumble, sacking him four times and ultimately knocking him from the game late in the fourth quarter.

Chris McAlister, Ed Reed, Corey Ivy, Derrick Martin and defensive tackle Dwan Edwards all had interceptions for Baltimore (4-2).

"Well, you know what they say, once the interceptions keep coming, the sacks keep coming. It's a momentum thing," McAlister said. "There's really no stopping the train."

Frerotte credited the Ravens' physical play for his troubles.

"What hurts? It all hurts," Frerotte said. "On the last play, I took a shot to the jaw. Earlier, I took a shot to the ribs. I don't think it's anything serious and I'll be OK."

"It's hard to believe we are 0-6. What's happened to us makes me sick."

Stover connected on all five field goals attempts, one week after going 3-for-3 in the Baltimore's 9-6 victory over San Francisco.

He hit from 42 and 43 yards out to give the Ravens a 6-0 lead, and his 23-yarder pushed the lead to 16-0 in the third quarter. After Jeff Wilkins' 32-yarder put the Rams on the board, Stover connected from 31 and 36 yards to push the Ravens' advantage to 22-3.

It was the fifth time in Stover's 18-year career that he had five field goals in a game.

Willis McGahee scored Baltimore's lone touchdown, barreling in from 6 yards out with 4:13 remaining in the second quarter. The touchdown, which was McGahee's first rushing score of the season, gave the Ravens a 13-0 lead and capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive.

"(I) felt pretty good today," McGahee said. "It's all good, so I'm happy, everybody's happy. We finally scored in the red zone. I'm (getting more) comfortable each game."

For Baltimore, it was only the sixth offensive touchdown in as many games.

Aside from the score, the Ravens' offense struggled. McGahee had 25 carries for 61 yards and Kyle Boller, who started in place of the injured Steve McNair, was 18-of-30 for 184 yards.

St. Louis (0-6) has now matched the worst start in franchise history, set in 1962, when the franchise was located in Los Angeles.

"If you turn the ball over five times to two, you're not going to win," Rams coach Scott Linehan said. "Turnovers were the difference. We put our defense in some bad situations with turnovers and you're not going to win games with turnovers."

Rams Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson missed his third straight game with a groin injury.

Starting Ravens tight end Todd Heap, who was inactive last week against San Francisco, re-injured his hamstring in the first quarter and did not return.

Ravens coach Brian Billick praised his team's effort in the win.

"It was a quality win at home," Billick said. "I am very pleased with the way the team responded to the ups and downs and kind of covered one another. Whether it be individually, by an injury and the guy stepping up, or how the flow of the game was, they responded to it and played very well. It was a great win."