Tag: NFL playoffs

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.)

Growth of Lions WR Jameson Williams could be key in playoffs

A big smile spread across Jameson Williams’ face when asked about reaching 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time. He made it by 1 yard late in the big win over the Vikings.

“It meant a lot, shoutout to my coaching staff for forcing that on me. I appreciate them a lot, it was huge to me and my people and my goals,’’ Williams said on Wednesday. “But I’m past that though, we’ve got three games left, I’m trying to focus on trying to get something on my fingers.”

By something, he means a Super Bowl ring.

The 1,000-yard mark was another milestone for the 2022 first-round pick who stumbled a bit out of the gate with an NFL suspension in each of his first two seasons — one for gambling, the other for using performance-enhancing drugs. 

He has grown. It’s evident on the field and even when answering questions from the media.

Coach Dan Campbell used the word “love” four times in a reply on Thursday about his sense of pride in the wide receiver best known as Jamo.

“I’ve got a lot of pride with him. You know he’s one of those guys, man I love that kid. He’s had to endure a lot. Look, some of it is his own doing and he knows that. That’s what I appreciate, it took him a minute to buy into what we’re doing. He can be a little hard-headed and it’s also why you love him, it’s why I love him,’’ Campbell said.

“But he’s learned along the way and he’s grown. What is the best thing he’s done? When he dropped the armor, he endeared himself to his teammates. He became part of the team, that took place last year, towards the end of last year. He could start to feel it and it’s only gotten better and better and better. Every one of these that’s happened, he’s grown he’s learning from it. I love where he’s at, I really do, I’m proud of him,’’ the coach added.

Campbell has been patient and honest with the 23-year-old Williams along the way.The coach also credits the support Williams has had from coaches, staff and teammates.

Along with his 1,001 receiving yards, this season he had three touchdown catches in the last four games and overall had seven receiving and one rushing touchdown

In the heart-breaking NFC Championship loss at San Francisco last January, Williams had a 42-yard rushing touchdown early and a 3-yard touchdown reception late. 

All eyes were on him and the Lions. It will be the same on Saturday night in the divisional round against the Washington Commanders.
“We all have the same mindset, we don’t look at it like we’re the No. 1 seed or we’re the best team. We still practice and play like we mean it, we still try to go out there and get a win and play hard for our brothers next to us,’’ Williams said. “… We’ve still got that grittiness. It’s playoffs, you’ve got to go out and get a win or you’ll be on the couch.’’

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

Five keys to watch as the Lions face the 49ers; plus injury updates, prediction

When the Vikings defeated the Packers, 27-25, on Sunday, it created a logjam of sorts atop the NFC North. Now it will all come down to the regular season finale when the Lions (13-2) host the Vikings (14-2) on Sunday, Jan. 5, at Ford Field. 

The winner will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The loser will play in the wildcard round. Detroit is 5-0 in the division while Minnesota is 4-1. 

In other words, Monday night’s game at the San Francisco 49ers does not mean anything in the standings or for playoff seeding. But it could be huge for the Lions to get a win to boost confidence before facing the Vikings.

And make no mistake, the 49ers game is still important to coach Dan Campbell. He addressed the possibility last week when asked if he would sit players if the Vikings won.

“We’re bringing everything that we have to this game, and we are playing, and I don’t care what it looks like, and where it’s at or who’s this, who’s that, we’re going out to play and win this game out on the West Coast,’’ Campbell said. “So, there you go.”

A year ago, the Lions fell apart in the second half to lose to the 49ers at San Francisco in the NFC Championship game.

They’ve won 13 games this year and have been in the Super Bowl conversation since Week 1. Still that loss is there somewhere in their heads.

“For us it’s really been difficult at times. It’s been the windshield mentality vs. the rearview mirror. We’re really trying to focus on what we have going forward,’’ Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomer said. “This is a different team and they’re a different team. That’s kind of where we are.We’re really focused on this year, 2024 and trying to play as well as we can possibly play against this team.’’

Campbell said his team is more mature this year.

“When you take an ‘L’ like we did last year, you learn from that. There were a number of things we did wrong and a number of things they did right, and I think you understand how the game can go and where it can swing and just about keeping your composure and making the most of any rep that comes, because the one that happened in the second quarter could change the game,’’ Campbell said.

“So, I think we’re much more prepared than we were, potentially, even that time. You feel like you are, but until you get into that with a heavyweight, real champion who’d been there numerous times, you don’t always know. And so, I think that experience, as difficult as it was, served us well moving forward into this year, and it’s like anything else, you just – you don’t like to lose, so you’ve got an opportunity with a team that got the best of you, and so you just want to go out and find a way to get a win,’’ the coach added.

Five things to watch:

ONE: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs put on a show without David Montgomery as a sidekick last week and needs to do the same again. “This is what he was built for, this is what he wants to do,’’ Montgomery said. “Now that he has to do what he has to do, this is something we expect from him. He did a good job, we felt that he created. He was very creative on the first level. We also liked him in the passing game once again and we’re finding out he can do those things more and more – interior running game, exterior running game. It’s a chance for him to showcase, in David’s absence, what he can do.’’ In the win over the Bears, he had 23 carries (the most this season) for 109 yards and a touchdown. Gibbs also had four catches for 45 yards. 

TWO: Get off to a fast start like they did against the Bears on Sunday when Detroit was up 13-0 in the first quarter and owned a 27-14 edge at the half.

THREE: Continue to work on the connection between Goff and WR Jameson Williams who has four touchdowns of 50-plus yards this season. The 82-yard touchdown bomb against the Bears last week was a career-long for both of them. Williams, known as Jamo, can be a huge weapon in the postseason. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said he knew it would click between the two but it took two and a half years for their chemistry to get in sync. “When it does click, man, what’s better than a two-play drive? That’s the potential that Jameson has to this offense and it’s a beautiful thing to see a post versus single-high like that,’’ Johnson said. “I know this, it does our offense wonders going into the end of the season here and into the postseason to put that type of stuff on tape.”

FOUR: The Lions defense continues to slowly regain its health while new guys and backups clearly are learning their roles after some of them (that’s you Z’Darius Smith) were thrown in without much time for preparation. The 49ers rank eighth in total offense and can run the ball no matter who carries it. “Listen, we know they’re going to run it, they know they’re going to run it, and their mentality is, ‘Listen, you’re going to have to stop it.’ So, it’s a tough, tough system which requires tough men, which you have to be on your assignment to be able to stop it, and we know that,’’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “And if you look at the game from last year, I thought our guys did a really good job early, and then some of their guys started to will themselves into making some plays, and that’s what we really have to do this game. Our top guys have to outwill their top guys, and I’m looking forward to seeing our guys do that.”

FIVE: The 49ers’ passing defense is rated third in the NFL against the Lions’ second-rated passing offense. Something has to give. Jared Goff must play a clean game like he has in recent weeks with just one interception in the last six games. The 49ers may be 6-9 but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause trouble for the Lions.

LIONS INJURY UPDATE:  LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck) is questionable; WR Kalif Raymond (foot) and RB David Montgomery (knee) are out.

NINERS INJURY UPDATE: OG Aaron Banks, DE Robert Beal, OG Spencer Burford, LB Dre Greenlaw and CB Charvarius Ward are out; S Ji’Ayir Brown and OT Colton McKivitz are questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 34, 49ers 24.