With Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams leading the lines, the Detroit Lions have long been defined as a passing team.
It’s easy to see why. They’re arguably the league’s most explosive offense when they’re on, liable to put up chunk plays through the air when the moment presents itself.
Dan Campbell’s team is a fearsome bunch when it is throwing the ball around. But when its run game is on, it is almost impossible to stop.
Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery take on different roles in the Lions’ offense. One is known for his jinks and jukes, while the other has developed a penchant for bruising bursts through the trenches.
Both came to play during the Lions’ 38-30 triumph over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. Gibbs and Montgomery strung together a performance that will live long in Detroit’s lore. It should also rank highly in the Lions’ record books.
Here’s what you need to know.
Lions run game vs. Ravens
Detroit put forth an epic ground display in its matchup with Baltimore, collecting yards in bunches while matched up against Baltimore’s wounded defense.
The Ravens have constructed a fairly proficient run defense in recent years. They looked anything but against the Lions and their tailback tandem, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Gibbs is the ice to Montgomery’s fire. He tends to grab the lion’s share of the headlines, ripping defenders to shreds with fast feet, swift hips and an imposing gait.
Gibbs was fairly productive Monday night, collecting his second and third touchdowns of the season. But it was Montgomery who was the star of the show.
The 28-year old’s usage has been a point of contention in recent weeks. But on Monday, he was a menace.
Montgomery carried the ball 12 for 151 yards and two touchdowns, good for an average of 12.6 yards per carry. Montgomery might not be a traditional lead back, but he looked the part, crashing into and around the Ravens’ sordid defense.
Montgomery gashed Baltimore on a number of occasions, from his 72-yard dash to set up a Gibbs score to his 31-yard touchdown to seal the game. In a match filled with luminaries, he was arguably the best player on the field. And his exploits powered Detroit to a momentous win, one that saw the Lions collect 224 rushing yards.
DAVID MONTGOMERY RUMBLES FOR 72 YARDS!
DETvsBAL on ESPN/ABCStream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/PcvsC3hJgW
— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2025
DAVID. MONTGOMERY.
DETvsBAL on ESPN/ABCStream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/qK7GVHfst2
— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2025
The Lions’ ground dominance will live on in Baltimore’s record books, too; the Ravens have only conceded more yards than the Lions’ 224 on two other occasions.
Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery stats vs. Ravens
Gibbs amassed more carries than Montgomery on Monday night. But it was “Knuckles” who collected more yards. The duo recorded two touchdowns apiece to platform Detroit’s offense, becoming the first two Lions players to record two rushing scores in the same game since Ernie Caddel and Dutch Clark did so in 1936.
| Jahmyr Gibbs | David Montgomery | |
| 22 | Carries | 12 |
| 67 | Yards | 151 |
| 2 | TDs | 2 |
| 3.0 | Yards per carry | 12.6 |
