by Jeff Legwold, The Denver Post , The Denver Post

But there are a lot of reasons for the label, and the Denver defense, which has manhandled an array of quarterbacks this season, saw every one of them Sunday in the Ravens' 30-7 victory. No matter what they did, the Broncos could not fluster the 24-year-old behind center, and he consistently made them pay.

"That doesn't surprise me," Broncos safety Brian Dawkins said. "He'll stand in the pocket and stare down pressure. He's a big guy, tall guy, strong guy. He has heart.

"Not everybody has that composure to sit there and take a hit and be able to deliver the ball on time. Guys can escape in the pocket, know how to work the pocket, but sometimes he'll just stand there flat-footed, look you in the face, know he's going to get hit and still deliver the ball. That's heart. That's somebody you can follow."

No, Flacco didn't wrench the Broncos' heart out with explosive plays, and he didn't dazzle them with highlight runs.

He simply faced what had been the league's top scoring defense and calmly helped put up 23 points, and the Ravens added seven more on a 95-yard kickoff return.

Flacco completed 20-of-25 passes for 175 yards to go with a touchdown and no interceptions. Although the Broncos were relentless in their pass rush, they sacked Flacco only twice.

"(Flacco) made a lot of tough plays under duress today," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "He has shown that ability before, doesn't surprise us he was tough to get down. There's not much 'give up' in Joe Flacco."

At one point in the second quarter, with the Ravens facing a second- and-11 from the Broncos' 31, Dawkins joined the pass rush and was locked on target when Flacco sidestepped the seven-time Pro Bowl safety and tossed the ball to running back Ray Rice for a 10-yard gain.

No quarterback, including Tom Brady, Tony Romo and Philip Rivers, had converted a third down in the second half of the past four games against the Broncos' defense. Flacco and the Ravens made six third-down conversions in the second half Sunday.

The Ravens also were the first team to rush for 100 yards against the Broncos this year.

Went right: no big plays

Not much went the way it was supposed to go for the Broncos . They were able to bring some pressure from some odd spots at times, creating some missed assignments up front in the Ravens' protection schemes that included a rookie at right tackle, Michael Oher.

Linebacker Andra Davis was unaccounted for up the middle on one blitz and got one of the Broncos' sacks. Denver also kept Flacco from going too far down the field in the passing game, with his longest completion going 21 yards.

Went wrong: quick snaps

The Broncos have been difficult for opposing offenses to predict, especially in the pass rush where they often crowd the line of scrimmage before dropping out or adding players to the rush just after the snap.

They also have been able to substitute plenty when they've wanted to, getting the personnel in the right place.

However, the Ravens did quick snaps - much as the Colts' Peyton Manning does - on two Flacco sneaks to convert first downs early in the game and went to a no-huddle look often in the second half. It forced the Broncos to defend some running plays in their nickel package, and they slowed the Broncos' rush with the pace as well.

The Ravens have opened up the offense this season because they believe in Flacco.

"That's what you want," Flacco said. "I take it as a compliment they're asking me to do so much. I want that responsibility."

Up next: more of the same

Hmmm, let's see, big quarterback, big arm and a guy who's not afraid to stand in the face of the rush to keep a play going if he believes a play can be made down the field.

That's the quarterback next on the schedule - the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger, a guy who has two Super Bowl rings because of it. The Steelers are running wide open these days on offense with Roethlisberger firing away out of three- and four-wide receiver sets much of the time.

The Steelers also are coming off of a bye and even get an extra day since the game is Monday.

Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com

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