Sanders breaks another rushing record as Lions advance
Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders continues to have the greatest season in a running back’s career. Sanders broke Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record during the regular season with 2,127 yards, and now Sanders broke Dickerson’s single-game rushing record as well.
Against the New Orleans Saints in the Wildcard game in the Silverdome, Sanders rushed for 255 yards, which broke Dickerson’s 248 yards that he set in 1984 against the Dallas Cowboys. Sanders rushed 32 times to get those 255 yards and he also scored the Lions’ two touchdowns.
It wasn’t easy for the Lions though. The best offense in the NFL moved the ball in the first half but trailed 7-3 at halftime. The Saints broke through first when QB Billy Jo Hobert took advantage of a Lions’ blitz and connected with WR Eric Guliford for a 33-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give the Saints a 7-0 lead.
The Lions moved the ball up and down the field in the first half, generating 190 yard of offense, but could only manage a 30-yard Jason Hanson field goal in the first half.
In the second half, the stars showed out for the Lions. Sanders ran all over the Saints and WR Herman Moore demanded the football in the second half. As a result, the Lions racked up 253 yards of offense in the second half and 20 points. In fact, the Lions controlled the ball as they had 20:45 of time of possession compared to 9:15 for the Saints.
Hobert was harassed by the Lions in the second half and the Saints only managed 59 yards in the half. Hobert was picked off twice, one of them thwarting the only promising drive the Saints mustered up.
Besides Sanders, Moore caught 12 passes for 133 yards. WR Johnny Morton caught six for 61 yards and Scott Mitchell threw for 208 yards on 20 of 35 passing with an interception.
The Lions will now travel to Candlestick Park next weekend to take on the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs. It will be a matchup of the best offense in the league against the best defense in the league.