As successful as the Ravens were passing in their 38-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the offense made significant contributions on the ground, as well.
Starter Ray Rice gained 108 yards (the second 100-yard game in his two-year career), Willis McGahee rushed for a touchdown, and fullback Le'Ron McClain also barreled into the end zone.
The backfield's performance had McGahee likening the trio to a popular group of comic-book superheroes and a Hollywood franchise.
"Two touchdowns, you can't ask for more," said McGahee, who also caught a pass for a 3-yard score. "Ray had over 100 yards, and then we had Le'Ron coming in and making plays. They've got the Fantastic Four, but I say we're the Fantastic Three."
Much of the attention centered on the offense's passing attack, but the running game seemed to pick up where it left off last season. Ranked fourth in rushing in the NFL with a 148.5-yard average last year, the team currently is second in the league with 198 yards, just 27 behind the Minnesota Vikings.
Rice said the offense's commitment to running the ball began to pay off as the game continued.
"We were getting 5 or 6 yards at a time, and then those 5- or 6-yard runs started turning into 15-yard runs and 10-yard runs and 20-yard runs," Rice said. "That's what good running teams do. On top of all the good passing today, you can look at our running game and say we did pretty good."
Coach John Harbaugh said the trio played well in every respect.
"I thought the running backs played really well in every way," he said during his weekly news conference Monday. "They ran the ball well, they protected, and they caught the ball well. ... You can kind of see all of the offseason work paying off. They've expanded their game, and every one of them has expanded what they do."
Gooden update
Harbaugh said linebacker Tavares Gooden's right knee sprain is not considered serious.
Gooden, who was scheduled to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging exam Monday, said after the game Sunday that someone rolled onto his knee while blocking on a kick return in the third quarter.
"We think right now it's a mild sprain," Harbaugh said. "We'll see how it responds this week."
If Gooden can't play against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Jameel McClain would likely start in his place.
Harbaugh said Tom Zbikowski suffered a concussion as he threw himself into a two-man wedge during kickoff coverage in the first half.
