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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Mike Anderson played drums in his high school
band the last time he was in the Louisiana Superdome. On Sunday, he
marched into the NFL record book.
Anderson ran 37 times for 251 yards and four touchdowns,
breaking the NFL rookie rushing record in the Broncos' 38-23
victory against the New Orleans Saints.
|  | | Wideout Rod Smith's 14-yard catch helped set up the Broncos' first score in the first quarter. |
"We ran two base plays all day," Anderson said. "Hand off
left, hand off right."
Anderson broke the mark of 246 yards on 39 attempts set by Corey
Dillon on Dec. 4, 1997. Anderson also broke Terrell Davis' 215-yard
single-game rushing record for the Broncos.
"It was just poor tackling," Saints coach Jim Haslett said.
"Too many guys on the ground, and we didn't play well."
The victory left Denver (9-4) in striking distance of the
Oakland Raiders (10-3) in the AFC West. The Saints (8-5) stayed
tied with the St. Louis Rams for first place in the NFC West.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Question on the Broncos: Should the Broncos start thinking about an
AFC West title?
Donahoe: Today was a significant road win for the Broncos. They're
just a game behind the Raiders, and since they defeated the Raiders twice,
they hold the tie-breaker edge. This was a great performance by Denver's
offense, especially rookie running back Mike Anderson. The Saints,
despite their excellent defense, had no answer for Anderson. If the Broncos
get Brian Griese back in time
for the playoffs, they could be a team to be reckoned with come January.
Question on the Saints: What happened to the Saints' defensive front
four Sunday?
Donahoe: The Saints' defensive front had a bad game today. It may
not be so much what they didn't do as it was an outstanding game plan and
blocking scheme by Denver. The Broncos seemed to keep the Saints' defense
off balance and didn't allow them to tee off the way they have most of the
season. The Saints are still on the verge of being a playoff team, and the
best thing they can do with today's game is learn from it and then put it
behind them so they're ready for the home stretch.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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The Broncos opened up a big lead in the second quarter with
three touchdowns, taking a 28-13 advantage at the half. They made
it 31-13 in the third quarter with Jason Elam's 22-yard field goal,
and Anderson scored his final touchdown of the day in the fourth
quarter.
Anderson's accomplishment didn't come without pain.
He was helped off the field in the third quarter after Saints
cornerback Kevin Mathis upended him. Anderson bruised his left knee
but jogged on the sideline and returned in the fourth quarter.
Anderson was in New Orleans with his South Carolina high school
band during Mardi Gras in 1991, ending up each day in the
Superdome.
The march downfield Sunday was better, Denver quarterback Gus
Frerotte said.
"Anderson is a lot of fun to watch," said Frerotte, who's
filling in for an injured Brian Griese. "He hits the holes, he
makes guys miss and breaks tackles. He's showing he's a big time
back."
Anderson rushed for a 13-yard touchdown in the first quarter,
for touchdowns of 5 yards and 7 yards in the second quarter and for
a 2-yarder in the fourth. He's the first Denver player to score
four touchdowns in a game.
Frerotte, who had offset six touchdown passes with seven
interceptions going into the game, was 11-of-16 for 201 yards with
no interceptions and one sack. He threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to
Dwayne Carswell in the second quarter.
New Orleans got another big game from Aaron Brooks, who
completed 30 of 48 passes for 441 and two touchdowns, breaking
Archie Manning's single-game team record of 377 yards set in 1980.
Brooks was sacked three times and intercepted twice.
"Sometimes you give all you can and you don't come back,"
Brooks said.
For the first time, New Orleans missed running back Ricky
Williams, who broke his ankle Oct. 15 against Carolina. New Orleans
did not run once in the second half.
While Anderson was keeping the Saints' defense honest, New
Orleans had only 21 yards rushing, 13 yards by Brooks. Jerald Moore
gained 6 yards after missing much of the week with a shoulder
injury. Chad Morton, who separated his shoulder in the first
quarter, gained 5 yards. Terrelle Smith had minus 3.
New Orleans, with the fourth-ranked defense in the NFL, had
given up over 21 points only three times previously this year. The
Saints had allowed an average of 288.8 total yards a game through
their first 12 games, only 80.8 rushing. The Broncos had 483 total
yards, 283 rushing.
"We pride ourselves on stopping the run and any time your goal
isn't reached, it hurts your pride," Saints linebacker Keith
Mitchell said. "He put up 251 yards and he's a rookie, so I guess
our pride took a hit."
The Saints first touchdown was on a 19-yard pass from Brooks to
Andrew Glover in the first half. Brooks hit Willie Jackson with a
28-yard touchdown pass 45 seconds before the game ended.
Doug Brien kicked field goals of 30, 19 and 42 yards for New
Orleans. He missed a 43-yard attempt in the first quarter.
Joe Horn had 170 yards on 10 receptions, giving him 1,059 yards
for the season and making him the first Saints player to reach the
1,000 yard mark since Quinn Early did it in 1995.
Game notes
Going into Sunday's game, the Broncos were 0-3 in the
Superdome, including two Super Bowl losses. The combined score of
those games was 124-20. ... The Saints' defense, which leads the
NFL with 56 sacks, got only one against the Broncos. Darren Howard
sacked Gus Frerotte for a 1-yard loss. The sack gives Howard nine
for the season, tying Renaldo Turnbull for the Saints' rookie
record. ... Denver leads the AFC in scoring average. ... Injuries --
Broncos: RB Mike Anderson, bruised knee; Saints: RB Chad Morton,
shoulder separation, DT Norman Hand, sprained foot.
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ALSO SEE
Denver Clubhouse
New Orleans Clubhouse
Clayton: Anderson marches to different beat
NFL first: Four 200-yard rushers
AUDIO/VIDEO
 ESPN's Ed Werder catches up with Mike Anderson after his 251-yard, 4-TD performance.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Coach Jim Haslett gives credit to the Broncos' offensive line.
wav: 124 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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