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As the Ravens' offense continues to surprise, here's a twist no one expected before this season:

Heading into their Week 4 showdown at New England, the Ravens have a higher-ranked offense than the Patriots.

Scoring more than 30 points in their first three games of the season - the first time that has happened in team history - the Ravens lead the AFC in total yards per game (430.3) and points scored per game (34.3). Tom Brady and the Patriots are ranked two spots lower than the Ravens and have scored 43 fewer points.

But the players caution anyone who wants to crown the Ravens as the NFL's top attack.

"You've got to do it for more than three weeks," quarterback Joe Flacco said after Sunday's 34-3 rout of the Cleveland Browns. "We're not going to talk. We're going out there and play each week. Hopefully, by the end of the season, you can say we're one of the best offenses."

The Ravens' defense isn't going to wait to express enthusiasm over the team's offensive renaissance.

Said Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce: "I've played with a Hall of Fame quarterback and a 2,000-yard rusher on the same field, a Hall of Fame tight end, a Hall of Fame wide receiver, a Hall of Fame left tackle, a Hall of Fame guard - all on the same team, all at the same time. And what I've seen from our offense so far compares to that one."

This offense is already among the most productive in recent Ravens history.

In the last four years under coach Brian Billick, the Ravens scored more than 30 points a total of four times. Coordinator Cam Cameron's offense has done it every game this season.

"We came in at the beginning of this year saying, 'We need to give our defense more time on the sideline.' We took a vow that we would do that," running back Willis McGahee said. "It's different from last year, where it was our first year [under Cameron]. In our first year, we were kind of hesitant about doing certain things. Now it's just clicking."

Here are five reasons for the Ravens' success on offense this season:

•Increased faith in Flacco: The Ravens have shown supreme confidence in their second-year starter by throwing the ball from the first snap of the season, something they didn't do last year. Through three games, Flacco has averaged 34.6 pass attempts, which is significantly more than his first three games last season (26.3 attempts).

Getting the offense placed on his shoulders hasn't fazed Flacco, who is the NFL's fifth-highest-rated quarterback (101.4). In comparison, the highest rating by a Ravens quarterback for an entire season is 88.7 ( Vinny Testaverde in 1996).

Perhaps the more impressive statistic is Flacco's six touchdowns. He didn't reach that number of touchdown throws until the ninth game last season.

•Cameron's play calling: The Ravens are far from a gimmick offense. They can line up in a basic I-formation and run the ball down a defense's throat. Or they can go with five wide receivers and pick a secondary apart.

But Cameron inserts enough wrinkles to keep defenses off balance. Whether it's an unbalanced line or going no-huddle, the Ravens try to keep defenders guessing. On Sunday, Cameron broke out an option toss from Flacco to wide receiver Mark Clayton and a direct snap to running back Ray Rice.

Cameron's success shouldn't come as a surprise. In his last three seasons as the Chargers' offensive coordinator (2004-2006), San Diego finished in the NFL's top five in scoring, averaging 28.3 points a game.

•Limiting mental mistakes: The Ravens not only have one of the more scintillating offenses in the NFL, but they also have one of the smartest. Their players understand nothing can derail a productive offense more than penalties and turnovers.

Through three games, the offense has committed eight penalties, but only three have come because of a lack of focus. The Ravens have been flagged only twice for false starts ( Todd Heap and Michael Oher) and once for delay of game.

The offense also hasn't hurt itself by turning the ball over. The Ravens have three turnovers (two interceptions and one fumble); only six teams have committed fewer.

•Supporting cast steps up: The passing game isn't just pitch and catch with Derrick Mason anymore, although he proved he can still be a playmaker with his 72-yard touchdown reception. What makes the Ravens so unpredictable is their ability to spread the ball around. No one has more than 12 catches this season, but six players have at least eight.

The two most pleasant surprises have been Heap and Kelley Washington. Heap already has the same number of touchdown passes from Flacco (two) as he did all last season. Washington's numbers (12 catches for 167 yards and one touchdown) nearly match what last year's No. 3 wide receiver, Demetrius Williams (13 catches for 180 yards and one touchdown) had in seven games last season.

•McGahee is red hot: There has been some clamoring among the fan base to start McGahee, who has been football's best drive finisher this season. He leads the NFL in scoring with six touchdowns, two more than anyone else in the league.

How hot has McGahee been in the red zone? He has scored all his touchdowns on 15 touches inside the 20-yard line. That means he has reached the end zone 40 percent of the time when he gets the ball in the red zone. It has been a remarkable run for McGahee, who hasn't scored more than eight touchdowns in a season since 2004.

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