The Ravens waited more than three years for Devard Darling to play the way he did against Cleveland on Sunday.
Darling, a third-round draft pick in 2004, produced the best game of his career by finishing with four catches for a game-high 107 yards and a touchdown. Darling?s 27-yard touchdown reception ? the first of his career ? from quarterback Kyle Boller came with 3:38 remaining and tied the game at 27 after the Ravens had trailed 27-14 after three quarters.
“I was just waiting for my time to get out there and shine,” Darling said. “The Lord gave me the opportunity and I capitalized on it.”
Entering the game, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Darling had just four catches for 31 yards in 23 career games over four seasons since being selected out of Washington State.
“It was great to see step up and have the game he did,” Coach Brian Billick said. “I?m very proud of the young man.”
Boller said Darling had a great week in practice and is not shocked he sparked a struggling offense to its most productive game of the season in which it scored the most points it has all season.
Against the Browns, the Ravens had just two first downs and 38 yards of total offense in the first half. But in the second half, the Ravens amassed 338 yards, including 69 receiving yards from Darling on the drive in which the Ravens tied the game.
“It doesn?t surprise me at all that he had such a great game,” Boller said. “He just adds an extra threat to what we have. I was really happy for him with the way that he played.”
HEAP, MCNAIR OUT: Tight end Todd Heap was inactive Sunday against the Browns after re-injuring his hamstring in last week?s 21-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Quarterback Steve McNair was listed as the third quarterback with other inactives being cornerback Samari Rolle, safety Gerome Sapp, tackle Jared Gaither, receiver Demetrius Williams and defensive tackle Edgar Jones.
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION: Referee Pete Morelli spoke with reporters after the game about the decision to reverse the call on Phil Dawson?s field goal at the end regulation. He said no instant replay was used in the decision, in which the 51-yard kick was ruled good.
“The other official informed me that the ball hit the back of the extension of the goal post, which is the backside of it, which is an object beyond the goal post,” Morelli said. “And in discussion with the three of us, we had to figure what the ruling was, whether the ball hit the bar beyond the extension or not.”
