Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery a perfect blend, like peanut butter and jelly

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs go together like peanut butter and jelly.

“Some people like peanut butter, some like jelly, but a lot of people like them put together. That’s where we are with both of them,’’ Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery said on Wednesday.

“That’s kind of where we are, I’m really happy with the development. It’s the kind of vision that (GM) Brad (Holmes) and Dan (Campbell) had. They’re doing a good job,’’ he added.

David Montgomery was signed as a free agent while Gibbs was drafted in the first round (a pick many skeptics did not like). Together the two have given the Lions a running game like they have not had in years. Many years.

And, the hope is that they’re just getting started with six games left in the regular season — including Sunday’s contest at the New Orleans Saints.

“This League is tough on backs, you get hit quite a bit. Part of the plan was when we got to December how fresh, how fast, how strong, how physical, could we continue to be,’’ Scottie Montgomery said.

When David Montgomery missed a pair of games in October due to injury, Gibbs made the most of his increased opportunities and has also become a better blocker.

Both have been healthy since the bye week and able to contribute in each game. The goal is not to split their touches 50-50 but to find the perfect blend each week.

“What Ben has done, he’s done a really really good job of making sure that they’re both really involved,’’ Scottie Montgomery said.

David Montgomery has 133 carries for 648 yards, 4.9 yards per carry and nine touchdowns, along with eight catches for 88 yards.

Gibbs has rushed 109 times for 566 yards, 5.2 per carry and 5 touchdowns, along with 41 receptions for 278 yards. In the first few weeks, he was slowly given more work and then proved he was capable.

“They’re both dangerous, they’re both really good backs. Hard-pressed to find a better duo in the League right now,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said. “Those guys are doing a helluva job, it’s fun to have them behind me and when I do have to check the ball down, being able to get it in their hands is a lot of fun too.’’

MOVES: The practice window for QB Hendon Hooker was opened when he participated in Wednesday’s practice. Hooker, a 2023 third-round draft pick, was coming off ACL surgery when drafted. Until now he’s been around the team, but has not been allowed to practice. … WR Tom Kennedy was signed to the practice squad, while WR Dylan Drummond was released.

WEDNESDAY INJURY REPORT: LB Alex Anzalone (hand) no practice; LG Jonah Jackson (ankle/wrist), RB David Montgomery (foot) and S Tracy Walker (shoulder) had limited practice.

Lions Dan Campbell says turnover ratio is concern, but overall he is not worried about team

ALLEN PARK — After rewatching the Thanksgiving loss to the Packers, Lions coach Dan Campbell said the big issue is the turnover ratio.

The Lions had three turnovers against the Packers and four in a win over the Bears the previous Sunday. In those two games Detroit had just one takeaway – a forced fumble by Cam Sutton that was recovered by Alex Anzalone against the Packers.

“That’s the major issue. We can talk about these other things, but until we clean that up the other parts of this are a little bit irrelevant and honestly they’re not the big issues,’’ Campbell said on Monday. “So we need to take care of the football.”

It is not lost on Campbell that six of the seven turnovers fall on Goff. He was intercepted three times by the Bears and lost three fumbles to the Packers.

“We’ve talked, he knows. Like I told him this morning, once you start to break the line of scrimmage you have to tuck it away. It’s as simple as that, it’s an emphasis we work on at practice,’’ Campbell said.

The turnovers are uncharacteristic for Goff who had thrown just five interceptions in the first nine games. Those were his first lost fumbles this season. He fumbled twice in the loss at the Ravens, but both were recovered.

“All these little things that come up, we’re not going to just yell harder, we’re going to give substance, you teach them, you show them,’’ Campbell said. “Here’s where you can be a little bit better – everything from pass pro to the rush, to the way we cover, to the way we jam to the way we protect the football or don’t protect …’’

The turnaround in turnovers will not be easy this Sunday against the Saints who excel at creating turnovers.

They’re very good, it’s a tough place to play too. This is going to be an unbelievable environment. It’s hard to win there but it’s exactly what you want,’’ said Campbell who played for the Saints (2009) and was an assistant coach there for five seasons.

If anyone thinks Campbell is in the dumps after dropping the game on Thanksgiving, they are just wrong.

The Lions are 8-3 and still atop the NFC North.

“I’m not getting worried, I love this, I’m serious. I love this. It’s doom and gloom outside our building, we’ve got six to go, we’ve got an unbelievable opportunity and I love it, I really do,’’ Campbell said.

 “This is what we find out what we’re made of and really everybody in this league for that matter. You talk about the month of December, there are some teams that will begin to rise and some teams will fall out of this. I love our team and I love where we’re at, and I know the guys we have in the locker room, I know these coaches. It should be good.’’

INJURY UPDATE: LB Alex Anzalone was injured Thursday and could be out for a bit, per Campbell. Safety Kerby Joseph was hurt but should be good to go. The coach was uncertain if left guard Jonah Jackson (wrist) will be ready to return after missing five of the last six games.

NEXT UP: Lions (8-3) at New Orleans Saints (5-6), 1 p.m., Sunday. The Saints are coming off a 24-15 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Detroit Lions fumble away chance to beat the Packers; five reasons for the 29-22 loss

DETROIT — While the Lions were favorites going into Thursday’s game against the Green Bay Packers, they didn’t play well on offense, defense or special teams.

The 29-22 loss to the Packers was a complete team effort. The Lions dropped to 8-3 and remain atop the NFC North. The Packers moved up to 5-6.

Know this, coach Dan Campbell is not in a panic mode. It’s not like he was happy afterward, but he knows this is the same team that has won eight games.

“They were ready, man. They played really well, and we did not. We didn’t play good enough and we did not complement each other, turned the ball over too much and we weren’t able to overcome those issues,’’ Campbell said.
It was the seventh straight Thanksgiving loss for the Lions. 

Five of the main reasons the Lions lost (in no particular order):

1. Turnovers were a huge problem. Goff lost three fumbles and the defense did not create a takeaway. “Everything’s got to start with the turnovers. We can’t turn the ball over and we’ve got to find a way to get takeaways. Let’s start there and then we’ll figure the rest out,’’ Campbell said. They turned it over four times on Sunday but still managed to beat the Bears. But they are playing with fire if they don’t get it fixed.

2. Packers quarterback Jordan Love had plenty of time in the pocket due to a lack of pressure from the defensive line. It’s not the first game where this has been apparent. “Same guys we’ve had here, and we’ve been able to generate pressure. So this unit’s going to be just fine. We’re going to get going and we pressured a little bit more today, played a little tight, but these are our guys, man. And these guys can do it and they’ve done it,’’ Campbell said. 

3. When quarterback Jared Goff is on his game the offense looks like a well-oiled machine. That didn’t happen on Thursday, in part due to his three lost fumbles. He had three interceptions on Sunday so it appears to be a trend. But he said there is no rhyme or reason to it. “I tend to look at them individually and see what I could’ve done better and sometimes there is an answer, sometimes there isn’t,’’ Goff said. “But overall, yeah, it’s my job to take care of the football and I’ve got to do a good job of that.” He finished 29 of 44 for 332 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The slow first half with just 100 passing yards was a factor in the loss. 

4. Goff was sacked three times and hit a dozen more but he did not blame the offensive line which was playing without starting left guard Jonah Jackson who is injured. “I’m behind what I believe is the best group in the League and those guys rushed well today, they did. They rushed well and did a good job,’’n Goff said. “I don’t point at our O-line for the reason of that at all. Probably could’ve got rid of the ball quicker on some of those as well. But yeah, it’s just some days, those guys rush pretty well and they did.”

5. Coaches didn’t have the Lions ready. They had a short week to prepare but it was the same for the Packers – except they also had to travel. No excuses. Campbell, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson have to do better. Campbell said as much.  “I didn’t have my guys ready to go. That’s the bottom line,’’ Campbell said.

UP NEXT: Lions at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 3.