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Flacco, Ravens extend winning streak to four games

Nov 9, 2008 - 11:20 PM By Ted Dunnam PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens quietly are making noise in the AFC North.

Flacco threw two touchdown passes Sunday as the Ravens powered their way to their fourth consecutive win, a 41-13 rout of the Houston Texans.

The 18th overall selection in this year's draft, Flacco completed 15-of-23 passes for 185 yards for the surprising Ravens (6-3), who climbed within one-half game of the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

Flacco believes the Ravens have much more in their aresenal.

"It was good to be able to put teams away," Flacco said. "When the defense gives you the opportunity to have a short field and go in and really put it away, it's good to know we're able to do that.

"We're getting better and better each week. Our main goal is to improve each week, and hit our stride right when it counts most. We're really starting to improve each week."

The Ravens' stifling defense intercepted Sage Rosenfels four times. Two of those picks led to second-half touchdowns, as Baltimore erupted for 29 points after intermission, a second-half season high.

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis picked off Rosenfels twice and cornerback Samari Rolle also hauled in an interception.

Baltimore's fourth interception, by defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, stymied a potential scoring drive for Houston in the first half.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh knows he can rely on his defense to produce game-changing plays.

"That play on the goal line, that's the play everybody will talk about. But that wasn't (Ngata's) best play," Harbaugh said. "He's dominating the line of scrimmage like nobody else in this league right now.

"They go down the field, they've got some momentum, they make a couple of plays and our guys rose up and got stops when they had to. That's the trademark of our defense, and that's why we're so proud of our defense."

The Ravens also produced a safety when Houston offensive lineman Duane Brown was called for holding in the end zone, giving Baltimore a 9-3 lead late in the first half.

The Ravens took control on the opening possession of the second half, marching 75 yards in 11 plays to open a 19-6 cushion. Willis McGahee capped the drive with a 1-yard run at the 9:16 mark.

McGahee finished with 112 yards on 25 carries to pace Baltimore's bullish running game.

"I was feeling strong," McGahee said. "I'm one of those players who can't sit on the sidelines and watch my teammates play. I want to go out there and be a part of it."

Baltimore scored on its second possession of the game, moving 77 yards in seven plays and scoring on Flacco's 43-yard pass to Yamon Figurs.

The Texans (3-6) were lethargic on offense in the first half, managing just a pair of field goals from Kris Brown.

Houston's only other score was a 60-yard touchdown pass from Rosenfels to Kevin Walter that pulled the Texans within 19-13 with 3:01 left in the third quarter.

But Baltimore immediately responded with a nine-play scoring drive that culminated with a 1-yard pass from Flacco to tight end Todd Heap.

Ravens reserve quarterback Troy Smith threw a 14-yard touchdown pass with 6:29 left and McGahee added a 4-yard insurance touchdown run with 4:37 remaining.

"I think that's huge for us," Heap said. "It's the first time we've done it in that fashion this year. To finish drives the way we did in the second half, I think we need to learn from that and expand on that.

"We're seeing signs of what we're capable of. As far as all of us are concerned in the huddle, we know we can get a lot better."

Houston head coach Gary Kubiak said his team had no answer for Baltimore, offensively or defensively, in the second half.

"We self-destructed," Kubiak said. "Obviously, I did a poor job of having our guys ready to play in the second half. I was hoping we would control their offense. Then we got down a couple of scores, and we had to get more aggressive than we wanted."