NOTEBOOK: McGahee, Darling Top 100

While Devard Darling's name hasn't exactly filled up the stat sheet lately, it certainly did Sunday. In a heartbreaking 33-30 overtime loss to the Clevleand Browns, the wideout was a catalyst in igniting the Ravens' offense.

The fourth-year receiver posted four catches for 107 yards, topping his previous bests of two grabs and 16 yards. Darling, who stepped into the third receiver role because of Demetrius Williams' ankle sprain, actually went into the weekend with only four career receptions.

To Darling, the 82nd-overall pick in the 2004 draft out of Washington State, his breakout performance was no surprise.

"Just going out there and executing," he said after the game. "I was just waiting for my time to get out there and shine. The Lord gave me the opportunity, and I capitalized on it."

Williams was listed as out early in the week of preparation for the Browns, promoting Darling to the first-string offense for a full workload.

"He did a great job," said quarterback Kyle Boller. "He really made some great plays. He had a great week in practice. It doesn't surprise me at all that he had such a great game. He just adds an extra threat to what we have. I was really happy for him with the way that he played."

Boller and Darling were big reasons the Ravens were able to come back from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The signal-caller had already looked for Darling once in the end zone before Matt Stover kicked a 41-yard field goal to trim the lead to a touchdown at the 7:20 mark.

Following a three-and-out from Cleveland, Boller promptly went to Darling for a 42-yard connection. Three plays later, the 6-foor-1, 215-pound wideout hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.

"It was great to see Devard step up and have the game he did," said head coach Brian Billick. "I'm very proud of the young man."

Another Century Mark

McGahee was a force against the Browns.

Running back Willis McGahee also topped the century point with 102 yards on the ground (21 carries), the third time he's done it as a Raven.

Coupled with Darling's big game, Sunday was the 13th time in franchise history that the Ravens had both a 100-yard receiver and rusher in a single game.

The last time Baltimore got 100 yards from a receiving/rushing duo was last season against Cleveland, when Williams logged 100 yards and Jamal Lewis posted 109 yards.

McGahee started off a strong opening drive in the second half with a 24-yard run up the middle, followed by a 2-yard touchdown crash off left guard Jason Brown. The score marked the fifth consecutive game McGahee has crossed the goal line.

Offense Wanted the Ball

Because the game was sent into overtime following Phil Dawson's no-good, then good 51-yard field goal with no time on the clock, the Ravens were brought back out of the locker room for an unexpected extra period.

And, as with any overtime, the Ravens' were looking to win the coin toss for their offense.

The unit woke up in the second half, posting 23 of its 30 points and 330 of its 368 net yards. With such an abrupt halt to their post-game celebration, the Ravens wanted to continue that offensive momentum.

"We kind of got into a rhythm. In the first half, we were kind of feeling everything out, seeing what would work and what wasn't," said tight end Quinn Sypniewski, who set a career best with 53 receiving yards on six catches. "In the second half, we came out and executed better and we started moving the ball a little bit."

Said tackle Adam Terry: "We wanted it on our shoulders. We were actually productive this week. Kyle did a great job and we ran the ball effectively. We just have to come back and improve on that."

Special Guests

The Ravens welcomed two celebrity guests on the sideline that actually had nothing to do with football. Saturday Night Live's Jimmy Fallon and Kevin Connolly, who plays Eric on HBO's Entourage, were in Baltimore filming the movie "He's Just Not That Into You."

Fallon smiles with the camera on the Ravens' sideline.

Fallon and Connolly mingled with fans before the game and took pictures with various VIPs standing with them on the sideline.

The movie will also star Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Connelly and has filmed around various Baltimore restaurants and landmarks.

Notable

Ray Lewis' 35-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter was the 25th pick of his career and second taken for a score. Lewis now ranks second among active NFL linebackers with 25 interceptions, behind San Diego's Donnie Edwards…The Ravens reported injuries to defensive tackles Trevor Pryce (chest) and Justin Bannan (ankle), and Brown (concussion). Brown's injury came on a 100-yard interception from Cleveland's Brodney Pool, where the Ravens' lineman was laid out from a vicious block. "This is football, stuff like that's going to happen," Brown said. "I'm not the first guy to ever get hit like that."…Baltimore's two penalties was a season low.