DENVER | A cold rain and two stingy defenses turned the Baltimore-Denver showdown into a kicking competition, and Jason Elam bested Matt Stover in the Broncos’ 13-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night.

The Broncos (3-1) intercepted three Steve McNair passes _ including Champ Bailey’s leaping end-zone pick just before halftime _ to hand the Ravens their first loss after Baltimore started a franchise-best 4-0.

Deep in Ravens territory with a 6-3 lead and 1:55 left in the game, Denver took a chance at the end zone, icing the game on Jake Plummer’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith. It was Smith’s first touchdown this season and also the first TD the Ravens have surrendered in a second half this year.

“We stuck together tonight,” Plummer said. “It was ugly, ugly for awhile, but in the end we came and put together some drives when it counted.”

Elam connected from 43 and 44 yards, the second one breaking a 3-3 tie with eight minutes remaining and capping a drive that was set up by Sam Koch’s 10-yard punt.

With safety John Lynch on the sideline after pinching a nerve in his neck, cornerback Darrent Williams intercepted McNair’s pass at midfield with 6:47 remaining, and Javon Walker had a 27-yard catch that set up Smith’s score.

Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce, who was quiet all week about his return to Denver, which dumped him and his $10 million salary in the offseason, was even quieter Monday night, assisting on just one tackle.