Ravens end Chiefs’ home run

Baltimore did what it does best, and accomplished something no other team had done in almost a decade.

The Ravens’ defense dominated in Sunday’s 20-10 victory over Kansas City, making Baltimore the first visiting team to win at Arrowhead Stadium in December since 1996.

The win also moved Baltimore a step closer to clinching the AFC North title.

“They’re a penetrating defense that causes negative plays,” said Chiefs quarterback Trent Green, who threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and was sacked four times. “All of a sudden, it’s second and long, third and long, and it’s hard to get out of.”

Ed Reed had both interceptions for Baltimore (10-3), which maintained its two-game division lead over Cincinnati, a 27-10 winner over Oakland.

“Our defense is well-orchestrated. They’ve got a lot of pride in what they do,” Ravens Coach Brian Billick said. “They don’t like giving up plays.”

The Chiefs didn’t give up many big plays either, but the ones they did were costly: Steve McNair’s 87-yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton in the third quarter, and a 33-yard pass from McNair to Demetrius Williams in the fourth that kept the Ravens’ game-clinching scoring drive alive.

Billick raised some eyebrows when he gave his players five days off after their 13-7 loss at Cincinnati on Nov. 30. Their fresh legs showed Sunday, though, as Baltimore looked a step faster on both sides of the ball.

“According to you guys, I gave them too much time off,” Billick told reporters. “Obviously, they were well rested.”

McNair, who completed 21 of 27 passes for 283 yards without an interception, agreed.

“Coming off a rest like that, you’ve got to take advantage of it,” McNair said. “I wanted my arm to be fresh, and it was.”

The touchdown throw, which was McNair’s longest career pass and Clayton’s longest reception, put the Ravens up 13-0 with just under 6 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.

Clayton had to pull up slightly to catch the pass but was still four yards past cornerback Ty Law when he hauled it in at the Chiefs 45. Nobody got close to him as he sprinted down the middle of the field to the end zone.

Kansas City (7-6) answered Clayton’s catch with Lawrence Tynes’ field goal and trailed, 13-3, heading into the fourth quarter.

The Chiefs failed to convert a turnover on Baltimore’s next possession, though, and Jamal Lewis’ one-yard scoring run with just under three minutes to go sealed the Ravens’ victory.

The Chiefs’ last previous home loss in December was 24-19 to Indianapolis on Dec. 15, 1996. Their 18-game home winning streak in December was the longest since the AFL-NFL merger.