Flacco’s poise helps Ravens

HOUSTON | The Baltimore Ravens have won four straight, rookie Joe Flacco is showing the poise of a veteran and Ray Lewis looks as good as ever.

Scary thing is the Ravens think they can get much better.

Flacco threw for two touchdowns, and Lewis had a pair of interceptions to lead the Ravens to a 41-13 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

The Ravens (6-3) have scored at least 27 points in a team-record four consecutive games. Sunday was the first time they have scored more than 40 points on the road since 1999.

“We can still grow immensely,” Flacco said. “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.”

Flacco was 15-for-23 for 185 yards and threw touchdown passes to Yamon Figurs and Todd Heap, keeping his composure despite being under heavy pressure most of the day.

“He doesn’t get flustered,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Momentum swings don’t affect him too much. He comes out and plays the next series and takes care of business. That’s the kind of person he is. He played well when he had to.”

Willis McGahee returned after missing last week with an ankle injury to run for 112 yards and two touchdowns. His second score came on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter set up by an interception by Samari Rolle.

This game was supposed to be played Sept. 14 but was postponed because of Hurricane Ike, and both teams had their byes that weekend instead.

“They took our bye week, so we had to come out there and show ‘em that they can throw obstacles at us and we’ll just try to overcome them,” McGahee said. “We’re trying to be in the playoffs this year.”

With their sixth victory, the Ravens have eclipsed last season’s win total.

Lewis’ first interception came in the third quarter, and his second one led to Heap’s second touchdown. Troy Smith threw that 14-yard pass to make it 34-13 with about seven minutes left.

The Texans (3-6) had a penalty- and mistake-filled day with Sage Rosenfels playing for the injured Matt Schaub. In his first start earlier this season, he led the team to a 17-point lead before his fourth-quarter turnovers allowed the Colts to rally for a win.

His errors started early in this one, and he never had a lead to lose. He was intercepted four times, with the first one coming in the end zone in the first quarter.

“I did the best I could, [but] I made too many mistakes,” Rosenfels said. “I blame myself for the mistakes I made, but I can’t do it all. I’m probably trying to be too aggressive and trying to make too many things happen.”

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