In the grand scheme of a rout that left the Baltimore Ravens basking in its completeness, the so-called scramble drill was not the signature highlight.

But coming on third down, it was a trend-busting example of how the Broncos' perfect record was torched. Three plays later, on another third down, Flacco drilled a 20-yard touchdown strike to Derrick Mason that made it 23-7. Then it was Ray Rice, darting up the middle on a third down and diving into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.

BOX SCORE: Ravens 30, Broncos 7

What's so special about third down?

Heading into the game, that was money for Denver's active defense. Especially in the second half. During a 6-0 start, Denver allowed conversions on just two of 35 third downs in the second half, including 0-fers in the last four games.

The Ravens, though, mixed a no-huddle passing attack, a few quick-hitting draw plays and Flacco's precision (20-of-25, 175 yards) to convert six of eight third downs in the second half and maintain control of a game in which they never trailed.

"Give them credit for executing," said Broncos safety Brian Dawkins. "Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the other team."

On a day when an unflappable Flacco completed his final 14 passes and 90 of their 125 rushing yards came after halftime, the Ravens wore Denver down by converting 11 of 18 third downs.

"It makes a difference when you can keep a defense on the field for a long time," said Flacco, a second-year pro, "rather than three, four or five plays a series and let them have all the energy in the world."

This effort had no lack of urgency. The Ravens (4-3) came in with a three-game losing streak, and in the last two setbacks blew fourth-quarter leads.

No wonder Washington summed up the victory as "a big stress-reliever."

It was also a good blueprint for how to unplug Denver — with decided advantages on offense, defense and special teams.

The Ravens scored their first points (the first of Steven Hauschka's three field goals) after Ed Reed's jarring, well-timed hit on Knowshon Moreno in the flat produced a first-quarter fumble recovered by Terrell Suggs at the Denver 23. They opened the second half with Lardarius Webb's 95-yard kickoff return touchdown.

And with the cushion of playing with a lead and positioning the safeties deep, the Ravens defense — uncharacteristically ranked 19th — kept Denver's low-risk offense in check. Denver's offense converted just three of 13 third downs, and was never able to expose the soft spots of a Baltimore defense that has been stung by big plays.

Denver didn't have a run longer than 12 yards. And Kyle Orton's one completion for more than 20 yards — a 23-yarder to tight end Daniel Graham— came on the third-to-last snap of the game. The dink-and-dunk approach didn't work.

"Just keep them in front of you," Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said of the key to containing a Denver offense that kept calling for screens that were often snuffed out. "We made a lot of plays, just running to the ball."

The Broncos rushed for just 66 yards, while Orton passed for a season-low 152 yards. Denver's only scoring drive was boosted by 44 penalty yards.

Denver's first snap was a harbinger: Jarret Johnson, untouched on a blitz, sacked Orton for an eight-yard loss.

"That's not the way to start the game," said Orton. "Not a good day for us."

Someone asked second-year Ravens coach John Harbaugh if he had just witnessed the best game of his tenure. That's a high bar, considering Baltimore advanced to the AFC title game last season.

"I don't know," Harbaugh said. "I have to think about that, see the tape and make a decision."

One thing for certain: With the end result the videotape will look much better than in previous weeks.

Said Washington, "It'll be good to watch the film and know that whatever it shows, at the end we came out with a win."