David Montgomery – Page 6

Lions RBs Montgomery and Gibbs could be a problem for the Commanders

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs missed his sidekick David Montgomery for the final three regular season games.

On Saturday night, in the NFL divisional round game against the Washington Commanders, they will be back together against a team that’s ranked 30th in rushing defense.

“It’s going to be great, I missed him a lot, being around him everyday. Not being around him everyday was so much different,’’ Gibbs said on Wednesday. “Just being on the sideline with him, cracking jokes and stuff just watching him play – he’s a great player. I love watching what he does. It’s going to be fun to get back to what we were doing.’’

And what they were doing is helping the Lions to a 15-2 record and smashing franchise records along the way.

Even though he missed his buddy, Gibbs excelled in those three Montgomery-less games — all wins. He had 64 carries, 365 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns, along with 13 catches for 122 yards and a receiving touchdown.

Typically, Montgomery starts the game and the two alternate depending on who is having success. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson wouldn’t say if that will be the case on Saturday.

“It’s to be determined. Gibbs has certainly had a hot hand as of late and I expect David to come in and pick up where he left off,’’ Johnson said. “If the last two days (of practice) are any indication, he’s of the right mindset right now.’’

Montgomery, who rehabbed from an MCL sprain that happened on Dec. 15, is ready. He doesn’t want a pitch count, he just wants to go.

This dynamic duo was part of Campbell and GM Brad Holmes’ plan all along. They signed Montgomery as a free agent from the Bears in March 2023, and then a month later drafted Gibbs in the first round in a move that drew criticism from around the League. Obviously they’ve been vindicated.

Campbell said they were lucky to play in the NFC North with Montgomery.

“He was a pain in the rear. I hated playing against him because I thought he was a hammer. And we’ve got even better than that and I thought he was a good player. A tone-setter, heavy, great feet, can cut, finishing power, can protect, (he’s a) receiver out of the back. He can do it all. He’s a hammer.’’

Campbell said when he and Holmes scouted Gibbs they were blown away.

“We saw the fit immediately,’’ Campbell said. “For us it was always about a 1-2 punch.’’

(UP NEXT: Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions, 8 p.m. on Saturday at Ford Field.)

Lions expect spark from return of RB David Montgomery against Commanders

Top 6 NFL rushing teams made the playoffs including Detroit, Washington

The Detroit Lions’ run game will get a boost with the return of running back David Montgomery, in the divisional round against the Washington Commanders on Saturday at Ford Field.

Jahmyr Gibbs has been carrying most of the load with Montgomery’s three-game absence and excelling. Montgomery, who wears No. 5, was initially thought to be done for the season when he injured his knee on Dec. 15, but with rehab he has been cleared for the playoff run.

“Five’s a big part of us, he’s a huge part of us. To me he’s a bell cow, he’s somebody that is a tone-setter, he’s a catalyst,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Monday. “There’s a place for him here, so there’ll be a place for him in this game. It’s going to be good to get him back.’’

Through the regular season, the Lions finished sixth in rushing offense (total yards) with 2,488 yards and tied for second with 29 rushing touchdowns. The Washington Commanders were third in total rushing yards (2,619) and fourth in rushing touchdowns with 25.

It’s really no surprise that the top six rushing offense teams are all in the playoffs – although it was one-and-done for the Packers and Buccaneers.

Certainly it’s a huge part of the Lions’ offensive game plan and they’ve invested in Gibbs and Montgomery. This season Gibbs rushed for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns and also had 52 catches for 512 yards and 5 receiving TDs. Montgomery had 775 rushing yards with a dozen rushing touchdowns and 341 receiving yards.

“I just believe that’s where everything starts, I know it starts for us that way. It creates an attitude, it creates a style, it creates a scheme, everything works off of that, is what you should say,’’ Campbell said. “At least for us that’s where it begins. It just takes a lot of pressure off other players – I think it takes pressure off your quarterback.

“If you can run it now you play-action pass off the same or similar type of schemes, you open up windows, It helps your receivers separate, they still have to beat the corner but everything underneath is open,’’ the coach added.

With an elite quarterback like Jared Goff it just makes sense.

“When you have a guy who’s as accurate as our guy is, the passer that our guy is, and receivers that can get open like (Amon-Ra) St. Brown, Jamo (Jameson Williams) and these guys, that’s pure gasoline that’s why you do it,’’ Campbell said.

The coach noted the obvious, that it’s hard to pass in the NFL.

“Especially if everybody in the arena knows you’re passing, every defense knows you’re passing they just pin their ears back, it’s tough,’’ Campbell said.

UP NEXT: Detroit Lions host the Washington Commanders in the divisional round at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Ford Field. The Lions are coming off a bye earned with the No. 1 seed, while the Commanders upset the Buccaneers on Sunday night to advance. Detroit opened as an 8.5-point favorite.

Five things to watch as Lions face Bears; plus injury updates, prediction

Despite a few reports to the contrary, the sky has not fallen for the Lions following a 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Coming up on the short side is just a new phenomena for Detroit which hadn’t lost a game since September.

Heading to play the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, the Lions look to keep alive their streak on no back-to-back losses in more than two years.The last time they lost two straight was in October 2022.

It hasn’t happened by accident.

“You have to identify the issues and you have to attack the next preparation for the opponent, there’s got to be a level of urgency that is extremely high and you have to want to get that taste out of your mouth so bad, the taste of losing, that you’ll do anything it takes to prep yourself and you’re going to play at the highest level that you played all season,’’ coach Dan Campbell said.

He explained that the magic combination includes mindset, preparation and work ethic.

“It’s really that simple. It’s not anything else – I know this, you overreact on one, that’s not good either,’’ Campbell said.

While the Ford Field atmosphere is among the best in the NFL, the Lions have not lost a road game yet this season.

“Our job is to go play football and that’s what we’re going to continue to do. We lost two games, we have a chance to win out and accomplish everything that we want to accomplish,’’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “So why should we sit back and wallow and think that the sky is falling? It’s dumb.”

Five things to watch:

ONE: Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams threw three touchdown passes in the second half of their first matchup which the Lions won, 23-20. Glenn said the key is to disguise coverages better because Williams is still learning to read defenses. “I think he’s playing really good football, and he just continues to get better. He’s taken a few hits, but he just continues to stand in there and push the ball down the field,’’ Campbell said. “He’s mobile, as we know, he can break contain, he keeps his eyes downfield. So, he’s a young quarterback in this League that is really continuing to improve and he’s got plenty of weapons.

TWO: The Lions defense has struggled with all the injuries and that includes a lack of takeaways. While the Bears are winless in their last eight games, in that stretch Williams has not thrown an interception. For the season he has 17 touchdowns and just five picks. “We have really a couple game drought of takeaways right now and that’s got to be a part of our identity. So, we have to get back to what we do and the way that we play because that’s how you give yourself the best opportunity to get takeaways. So, to be able to put some pressure on him and try to force him into making some decisions that are ill-advised, that’s big and that’s big for any opponent that you go against,’’ Campbell said.

THREE: With RB David Montgomery out with a knee injury, Jahmyr Gibbs is expected to carry a heavier load. He’ll have help from either Jermar Jefferson, Craig Reynolds or Sione Vaki. “(Gibbs) brings the explosive element, he’s getting better in the pass game, and then you see what he’s able to do in the run game, so we have a ton of confidence,’’ Campbell said. “I think for him it’s going to be, we’ve got to use and maximize the reps that we have for him, and be careful that we don’t give him too much. Last week the Lions had a season-low 48 rushing yards. Improving that number is an emphasis against the Bears.

FOUR: In the loss to the Bills, the Lions were down 14-0 in the first quarter. The offense managed just one first down in their first two possessions. So a quick start is another emphasis this week. “Coming from behind, it’s not impossible, but it’s hard. I think we put ourselves behind the eight ball a little bit, so yeah, starting fast and making sure we can get a lead is always great, obviously,’’ Goff said. “But yeah, you just want to keep that game close and stay in it until the very end, and unfortunately, we weren’t able to finish it off.”

FIVE: It’s a rare outdoor game for the Lions. They’ve been preparing for playing at Soldier Field by holding practices outdoors this week. “It brings a different level of juice to those guys outside. The bigs love it, we’ve got a lot of skill guys out there that are running around that enjoy it too,’’ Campbell said. “But yeah, I think that it fits us very well and I think it’ll be good for us out there.” Goff said he looks forward to playing at Lambeau and Soldier Field every season. The forecast calls for a high of 31 with partly cloudy skies. Not bad for Chicago in December..

LIONS INJURY UPDATE: RB David Montgomery (knee) and LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck) are out; DB Brian Branch (calf), G Graham Glasgow (knee) and S Ifeatu Melifonwu (hand) are questionable.

BEARS INJURY UPDATE: OL Ryan Bates (concussion) is out; RB Travis Homer (hamstring) is doubtful; DB Jaylon Johnson (illness), DL Gervon Dexter Sr. (knee), OL Teven Jenkins (calf) and OL Braxton Jones (concussion) are questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 35, ,Bears 27.