Broncos Win Defensive Battle

If being disrespected means Champ Bailey gets more lob passes thrown his way in the end zone, then the Denver Broncos won’t complain anymore about their dominant defense being dissed.

The Broncos (3-1) intercepted three of Steve McNair’s passes -- including a leaping end-zone pick by Bailey just before halftime -- to hand the Ravens (4-1) their first loss with a 13-3 victory Monday night.

Bailey was as surprised as anyone that McNair went after him with a lob pass to wide receiver Clarence Moore in the right corner.

“A little,” Bailey said with a smile. “And they paid for it.”

All Baltimore Coach Brian Billick had to say about the ill-advised call that loomed so large on a cold and rainy night was: “That play was one of the options we had and it didn’t turn out for us.”

Rain and two stingy defenses turned the Baltimore-Denver showdown into a kicking competition for much of the night, and Jason Elam bested Matt Stover with two long field goals.

But with a 6-3 lead and 1:55 left in the game, Denver put the kick-fest to rest. Deep in Ravens territory, Denver took a chance at the end zone, icing the game on Jake Plummer’s four-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith. It was Smith’s first touchdown this season and also the first touchdown the Ravens have surrendered in a second half this year.

“We stuck together tonight,” Plummer said. “It was ugly, ugly for a while, but in the end we came and put together some drives when it counted.”

The touchdown was set up by Darrent Williams’ interception at midfield with 6:47 left and Tatum Bell’s 12-yard gain on third-and-10 from the 17 in which he carried linebacker Ray Lewis for the final five yards.

“It wasn’t a big deal,” Bell said, “but it was a big deal because it was Ray.”

Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce, who was quiet all week about his return to Denver -- which dumped him and his $10-million salary in the off-season -- was even quieter Monday night, assisting on just one tackle.

“The loss hurts, but I don’t really care who it is against,” Pryce said. “They are just another football team. The thing is, they are a great football team. They always have been, they were before I got there and they are now that I’m gone.”