The good: Detroit topped 2,000 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns this season as Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery became the best one-two punch in any backfield across the NFL.
The Lions rushed for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in 15 games during the regular season and Detroit running backs combined to produce 478 rushes for 2,362 yards (4.9 avg.) and 28 touchdowns on the year. Detroit’s 32 scrimmage touchdowns between Gibbs and Montgomery led all NFL backfields.
Gibbs has developed into one of the best running backs in the NFL in just his second season. His 20 touchdowns led the NFL this year and he was fifth in rushing yards (1,412) and third in rushing average (5.65). He had 41 rushes of 10-plus yards, which ranked third behind only Saquon Barkley (46) and Derrick Henry (45).
Montgomery’s hard-nosed running style is a perfect complement to Gibbs’ big-play ability. Montgomery rushed for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns in 14 games and added 341 receiving yards to give him over 1,000 scrimmage yards on the season. He had some of Detroit’s most memorable runs of the season, including a catch-and-run vs. Seattle Week 4 that earned him Kyle Brandt’s ‘Angry Runs’ award that week.
Rookie running back Sione Vaki wasn’t a big part of the offense with Gibbs and Montgomery handling most of the running duties, but he proved to be one of the team’s most consistent special teams players as their leading tackler on teams.
Gibbs, Montgomery and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown became the first trio in NFL history to all total at least 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 scrimmage touchdowns in consecutive seasons.
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