ST. LOUIS — Rookie Torrey Smith made his first three career receptions count.
Smith went for long touchdowns on passes from Joe Flacco totaling 133 yards in the first quarter, sparking a franchise record-setting day on offense by the Baltimore Ravens in a 37-7 rout of the defenseless St. Louis Rams on Sunday.
The Ravens (2-1) got back on their game and then some after stumbling in a loss at Tennessee last week. The 406-yard first half that fueled a 27-point cushion, and the game total of 553 yards, were both bests for the franchise that moved from Cleveland in 1996.
Baltimore also sacked Sam Bradford five times.
St. Louis (0-3) finally got on the scoreboard with Brandon Gibson’s 34-yard catch late in the third quarter. Haloti Ngata wrapped up a thorough whipping with a 28-yard fumble return after Ray Lewis stripped Bradford on a sack late in the fourth quarter. By then, the Edward Jones Dome was virtually empty.
Flacco was 27 for 48 for a career-high 389 yards, 192 more than last week. Bradford was 16 for 32 for 166 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Baltimore totaled 553 yards, the Rams 244.
The Ravens punted for the first time with about 2 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. Their lone failure was long field goal kicking, with Billy Cundiff making three chances inside the 40 but missing twice from 51 yards.
Smith, a second-round pick who had 12 touchdown receptions last year at Maryland, got his first career start ahead of injured Lee Evans. Touchdown catches of 74, 41 and 18 yards capped three of the Ravens’ first four possessions, and the rookie finished with five receptions for 152 yards.
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