DENVER 38, NEW ORLEANS 23

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 over the New Orleans Saints.

“We ran two base plays all day,” Anderson said. “Hand off left, hand off right.”

Anderson broke the rookie record of 246 yards in 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,” Saint 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.

The Broncos opened a big lead in the second quarter with three touchdowns, taking a 28-13 advantage at halftime. 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 Saint 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 is 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.”

New Orleans got another big game from Aaron Brooks, who completed 30 of 48 passes for 441 yards 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.

But 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 and had only 21 yards rushing, 13 yards by Brooks.

New Orleans, with the fourth-ranked defense in the NFL, had given up more than 21 points only three times previously this season. The Saints had given up 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.