BALTIMORE (AP) -- For one of the few times since his move from Cleveland, Art Modell celebrated a significant victory.

Stoney Case scored two touchdowns in his first start at quarterback for Baltimore, and the team formerly known as the Cleveland Browns beat the expansion version 17-10 Sunday.

	Baltimore's Michael McCrary got to Cleveland QB Tim Couch in the second quarter and then recovered a Couch fumble to set up the game's first touchdown.

The Browns (0-3) hoped to provide the city of Cleveland a measure of revenge against Modell, who moved the franchise to Baltimore after the 1995 season.

Instead, Modell watched Baltimore record its first victory under head coach Brian Billick. The Ravens were 16-33-1 since the move and have yet to enjoy a winning season, but this game was terribly important to Modell and his struggling franchise.

"That's great for Art. This is pretty big for him," said Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware, who had two sacks. "It's good to get a win, especially against Cleveland, and I'm proud of that."

The Ravens (1-2) held rookie Tim Couch to 37 yards passing through three quarters and overcame three interceptions by Case, who was more of a threat on the ground than through the air -- he ran 11 times for 57 yards.

The victory was also particularly enjoyable for Baltimore fans, many of whom were angered because Cleveland got an expansion team three years after losing the Browns. Until Modell came to town, Baltimore went 12 years without an NFL franchise after the Colts left for Indianapolis in 1984.

"It's unfortunate that Cleveland feels the way they do towards Mr. Modell. I'm pretty sure the city of Baltimore feels the opposite because they have a franchise again," Ravens safety Rod Woodson said. "He had to make a business decision and he made it."

One sign at PSINet Stadium read: "Hey Cleveland -- Grow Up and Thank Art."

GAME NOTES

Stoney Case is the fourth starting QB for the Ravens in their last 13 games. Cleveland's Lenoy Jones, in his fourth year, and rookie Rahim Abdullah got their first career interceptions. They were the Browns' first interceptions of the season. Ravens DT Tony Siragusa was sidelined after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Saturday. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Lionel Dalton. Errict Rhett had consecutive 100-yard rushing games for the fourth time in his career and the first time since 1995. Three of the Browns' 11 first downs came by penalty.

After two straight losses, the Ravens were thankful that the woeful Browns were in town. Cleveland had been outscored 69-9 in its first two games and was the perfect cure for Baltimore's losing streak.

Billick was seemingly happier for Modell than he was for himself.

"We all have an affection for Art and what the history has been," he said. "Yeah, I think this is important for us."

Case, who relieved an ineffective Scott Mitchell last week, was hardly impressive -- he was 12-for-25 for 165 yards in his second NFL start over five years. But his two 1-yard TD runs were enough to beat an expansion team that has yet to jell under Couch, the top pick in the 1999 draft.

Couch was 13-for-32 for 123 yards, and his second-quarter fumble set up Case's first score.

"We've just got to go out and just get a win, no matter who it's against," Couch said. "The losses hurt, especially when you can see yourself getting better each week and you're still losing."

Down 10-0 at halftime, the Browns turned an interception by Rahim Abdullah into a 49-yard field goal by Phil Dawson early in the third quarter. But Baltimore made it 17-3 by moving 69 yards in seven plays, with Case scoring shortly after completing a 45-yard pass to Qadry Ismail.

The Browns closed to 17-10 with 14:03 left. After Couch connected with Terry Kirby on a 61-yard pass play, Couch hit Kevin Johnson in the right side of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown.

But Cleveland never threatened again. The Browns' next chance for revenge against Modell and the Ravens will come Nov. 7, when Baltimore travels to Cleveland for the rematch.

"Wait 'til the game in Cleveland. Our fans are hyped up," said offensive tackle Orlando Brown, who played for the original Browns before spending three seasons in Baltimore. "They love their football. They're pumped up, they're ready to go. We just got to keep up our end of the bargain."

Errict Rhett gained 113 yards on 22 carries for the Ravens, who converted only two of 13 third-down plays.

Both teams struggled mightily in the first half. Couch passed for only 14 yards and was sacked four times for 34 yards in losses, but the Browns stayed close because Case threw two interceptions.

The Ravens went up 3-0 on their second possession, moving 54 yards in seven plays before Matt Stover kicked a 44-yard field goal. Case was 3-for-3 for 48 yards on the drive.

Baltimore used a costly turnover by Couch to make it 10-0 early in the second quarter. Dropping back on a third-and-26 play, Couch fumbled when hit by Peter Boulware. Michael McCrary recovered at the Cleveland 1, setting up a touchdown run by Case.