When your football team wins on Sunday, it makes the rest of the week that much better. And when your football team manhandles a divisional opponent as easily as the Ravens crushed the Browns, 34-3, in Week 3, it’s hard to be too critical when handing out grades.

Offense: A

Again, it starts with the physical offensive line. They only gave up one sack and provided plenty of protection for quarterback Joe Flacco and the running game. Jared Gaither really improved his play over the previous two games and could be seen making strong downfield blocks on Willis McGahee’s 15-yard touchdown run near the end of the first half.

Flacco continues to impress. He threw for a career-high 342 yards, including a beautiful 72-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Mason, who finished the play with a great juke. Flacco completed passes to eight different players, and at least three passes to six of them.

Tailback Willis McGahee scores one of his two rushing touchdowns against Cleveland.

McGahee scored twice and now leads the NFL with six TDs. He made quick cutbacks and, although he did fumble once, is beginning to look like he’ll be trouble for the rest of the league. At the same time, Ray Rice continues to be a playmaker, gaining 48 yards in 11 carries — plus his first career TD — and 27 yards on four catches.

Defense: A

The defense gave up a total of 186 yards, intercepted two helpless quarterbacks four times (by four different Ravens) and had two sacks. The Browns offensive line couldn’t do much to stop the Ravens. The D-line applied pressure the whole game, which really paid off as the secondary seemed to catch more passes than the Browns’ receivers. (It was nice to see Domonique Foxworth rack up his first interception as a Raven.) The unit not only seemed better than the Browns offense, but better prepared too.

Special Teams

Well, just like in the game against the Chiefs, the Ravens took way too many penalties. But other than that, no complaints. They did a terrific job of containing the dangerous Josh Cribbs on punt and kick returns. And kicker Steven Hauschka converted on all of his opportunities. --- RONALD T. ZIZMOR.