How Many Times did Barry Sanders go to the Playoffs?
How Many Times did Barry Sanders go to the Playoffs?
By Jason Bolton July 09, 2024 09:06
Barry Sanders was a great American football player who played in the NFL from 1989-1998 for the Detroit Lions. He made a lasting impact on the sport and became one of the top running backs in NFL history during his time with the team. Among his achievements, Sanders was a four-time NFL rushing champion and made the Pro Bowl in his ten full seasons as an unopposed starter. His sterling career culminated with his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Number of Playoff Appearances
In his 10-year career, Barry Sanders only led the Detroit Lions to five playoff appearances. Those postseason showings came in 1991, '93, '94, '95 and '97.
Game-by-Game Results in the Playoffs
1991 Playoffs
The Detroit Lions found the postseason with Sanders at his best work in the 1991 playoffs. Their divisional win over the Dallas Cowboys was followed by a defeat at home to Washington in the NFC Championship.
1993 Playoffs
In the 1993 playoffs, Detroit gained carte to correspond in the separate wild card reinforce by sweeping their leash construct urbanized rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.
1994 Playoffs
During the 1994 postseason, Detroit made it to Week One of playoff football, but they ended up losing and ending their season as a disappointment.
1995 Playoffs
Detroit finally made the 1995 playoffs, only to play then lose one postseason game.
1997 Playoffs
The 1997 Detroit Lions made the playoffs but were eliminated in the Wild Card Round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Sanders Playoff Stats & Individual Performance
Some of his more significant post-season stats as an individual consist of:
- Total playoff appearances: 6
- Rushing Yards in Playoffs: 386
- Average rushing yards per playoff game: 64.3
- Playoff rushing touchdowns: 1
- Postseason Yards-Per-Carry Average: 4.2
- Receiving Yards: 111 (Playoffs)
- Receiving yards per playoff game: 18.5
- Receiving touchdowns in the playoffs: 0
How Sanders' Playoff Showings Affected Them - and How Important They Were
While the Lions struggled to capitalize on their postseason appearance, Sanders certainly made a positive impact in the games that he played and displayed not only his quality as an elite running back but also how versatile of a weapon he could be when it mattered most. He was consistent and put up the best numbers, but his playoff statistics helped to secure a win as one of the greatest.
The playoff games are not just highlights of Barry Sanders's time on the field; they also speak to his lasting mark in Detroit and around the NFL. Regardless of how his teams fared in the playoffs, Sanders' elite-level production during these moments earned him legendary status and landed him a lasting legacy in American football.