Denver Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker (left) pulls past Baltimore Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle (centre) and safety Dawan Landry in the fourth quarter of their NFL game in Denver on Monday night. Denver won 13-3. - Reuters

NEW YORK, (Reuters):

THE DENVER Broncos matched Baltimore's much-vaunted defence tackle-for-tackle on Monday night to hand the Ravens their first loss of the season.

Denver's stingy defence kept up a steady stream of pressure on Baltimore quarterback Steve McNair, ending with two sacks and three interceptions including a key fourth quarter pick by Darrent Williams that set up the only touchdown of the game.

Jason Elam kicked two field goals and Jake Plummer passed to Rod Smith with less than two minutes remaining to wipe out a first quarter field goal from Ravens' Matt Stover on a cold, rainy night in Denver.

"We've got a good defence too, I think we proved that tonight," Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. "I think we've started something good and we're going to take it one game at a time."

Plummer, the subject of heavy criticism in the Mile High City, delivered a controlled effort in difficult conditions, completing 13-of-24 passes for 106 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

"It was a team effort, we stuck together tonight," said Plummer. "It was ugly for a while, but in the end we came and put together some drives when it counted."

Stover gave the Ravens an early 3-0 before Elam booted a 43-yarder in the second and 44-yarder in the fourth to nose the Broncos in front 6-3.