Sanders Has Another Big Day : Detroit: Rookie runs for 158 yards and three touchdowns in 31-24 victory over Atlanta.

Barry Sanders closed out his first NFL season in record-breaking fashion, shattering two club records previously held by Billy Sims.

Sanders, last season’s Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma State, ran for 158 yards and three touchdowns Sunday to lead the Detroit Lions to a 31-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, who clinched the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft with the loss.

“I know a few people wanted me to get the rookie Lions’ rushing record,” Sanders said. “But I don’t think you can just pinpoint my game because the guys up front created some awesome holes.”

Detroit (7-9) finished with five consecutive victories, its longest winning streak since 1970. The Falcons (3-13) lost their seventh straight and ninth in 10 games.

Sanders ended his first NFL season with 1,470 rushing yards, topping the club record of 1,437 set by Sims in 1981. Sanders ran for touchdowns of 17, 18 and 25 yards, giving him 14 rushing touchdowns this season. It broke the club record of 13 set by Sims in 1980 and 1981.

“I’m happy for the young man to be able to break Billy Sims’ records,” Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes said.

Fontes, however, was not happy at halftime when Detroit led by only 14-10.

“In the second quarter I think we were going through the motions,” he said.

Sanders, whose 158 yards came in 20 carries, put the Lions ahead 14-3 early in the second quarter when he scored from 25 yards out after Detroit quarterback Bob Gagliano threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Richard Johnson. Johnson, from San Pedro High and Harbor College, had seven catches for 135 yards.

Greg Davis’ 25-yard field goal and Chris Miller’s nine-yard touchdown pass to Gene Lang 19 seconds before halftime pulled Atlanta to 14-10 at halftime.

Miller attempted a club-record 66 passes, completing 37 for 334 yards. The attempts were the second most in NFL history; George Blanda was 37 of 68 for the Houston Oilers in a 24-10 loss to Buffalo on Nov. 1, 1964. AFL records count as NFL records.