Notebook: Lions' Bly talks boldly, backs it up with 2 picks and fumble recovery

Lions' cornerback Dre Bly is off and running with one of his two interceptions on the day against the Baltimore Ravens.

DETROIT - Dre' Bly boldly predicted he would make a big play against the Baltimore Ravens.

The trash-talking Detroit Lions Pro Bowl cornerback did a little better than even he expected.

Bly intercepted two passes and forced a fumble and recovered it yesterday as the Lions rolled to a 35-17 victory over the Ravens at Ford Field.

The seven-year veteran has 26 career interceptions, including 12 since signing with the Lions prior to the 2003 season.

"I knew I was going to get opportunities to make plays," he said. "I don't care what anyone says about shutdown corners in this league - they have opportunities to make plays. All those guys that don't have interceptions, that is ludicrous.

"If you have instincts and you're a playmaker, you can make plays.

The Ravens gave me opportunities to make plays today, and I just took advantage of that. I don't back down from anybody. I'm a competitor.

That's what I'm here for."

Bly's first interception in the opening quarter at Baltimore's 37 helped set up the Lions' first score - a 14-yard run by Kevin Jones.

His other pick came early in the second quarter in the end zone, but the Lions offense went three-and-out after taking over at the 3 and had to punt.

In the fourth quarter, Bly jarred the ball loose from Baltimore's Derrick Mason after a nine-yard reception and fell on it at the Lions 40.

He was credited with three of the four turnovers caused by the Lions.

"A lot of you didn't pick us to win," said Bly, who added five tackles.

"You thought [Baltimore's] all-pro defense was going to win.

It was vice versa because we made plays on them."

ROY WILLIAMS HURTING: Receiver Roy Williams left the game early in the second quarter with a left leg injury and did not return.

It left the Lions with just three wideouts because former No. 1 pick Charles Rogers was sitting out the first game of a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Kevin Johnson, who played for the Ravens last year, led the way with three catches for 25 yards.

Seldom-used Scottie Vines had one catch for 10 yards before spraining his ankle and rookie Mike Williams had one for seven despite being slowed by leg cramps.

"Roy Williams strained his left quadriceps," Lions coach Steve Mariucci said.

"He is pretty sore right now. He's wrapped and iced, and I don't know what his availability will be."

The Lions also lost return man Eddie Drummond to a shin bruise on the opening kickoff, and tailback Kevin Jones suffered a mild concussion after scoring two first-quarter touchdowns.

TAYLOR SIGHTING: Former University of Toledo tailback Chester Taylor was one of the few bright spots for the Ravens.

He rushed nine times for 46 yards, caught four passes for 24 more, made two special-teams tackles and got flagged for a 10-yard facemask penalty after a 49-yard punt return by R.W. McQuarters.

ODDS & ENDS: Detroit's Kevin Jones had the first multi-touchdown game of his career. . . . Defensive end Kalimba Edwards registered a sack for the Lions, and leads the team with four. ... Tight end Casey FitzSimmons scored his first touchdown of the season, wrestling a two-yard reception away from Ravens Pro Bowl middle linebacker Ray Lewis in the end zone. ... Baltimore's defense, which hadn't allowed a rushing touchdown all season, gave up four yesterday. ... The Ravens' 21 penalties were the second-most in NFL history, and they had two players ejected - linebacker Terrell Suggs and safety B.J. Ward.