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How David Montgomery and Detroit Lions rolled over LA Rams in overtime
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- How David Montgomery and Detroit Lions rolled over LA Rams in overtime
On the biggest play of Sunday night, the right side of the Detroit Lions ' offensive line carved out a gaping hole, allowing David Montgomery to power into the end zone.
The Lions re-established their team identity when it mattered most, in overtime of the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams . After tying it in the final moments of regulation with a field goal, the Lions won the coin toss and proceeded to pound the Rams on the ground on the only possession in the extra period. The Lions ran on seven of eight plays, covering 60 yards on the winning drive.
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"It was a little bit of everything," right guard Kevin Zeitler said. "We got the blocks done. David read them incredibly well and was able to punch through and break tackles too. It truly was just some things just started firing on all cylinders."
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) celebrates his game winning touchdown against Los Angeles Rams in overtime at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
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The Lions started the drive with a 12-yard reverse to Kalif Raymond before Montgomery took over. He finished with five carries for 45 yards in OT, starting by ripping a run behind Zeitler and Penei Sewell into the second level and breaking tackles for a 21-yard gain. He then ran through an arm tackle on the left side for a 9-yard gain, to the Rams' 28-yard line. Jahmyr Gibbs gave him a breather and got the ball to the 15 in two plays before Montgomery took back over.
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"We're hard to break, so we did what we had to do," head coach Dan Campbell said. "And our defense held there. Before that (Lions punter Jack) Fox makes a heck of a punt and (the) defense holds, offense we get it back, and get it in overtime. We win the toss, and we don't look back."
Montgomery took a handoff out of the shotgun to the 9-yard line, then carried defenders on the next handoff down to the 1. That set up a a dominant showing from the Lions' blockers: Frank Ragnow pancaked Kobie Turner in the middle with help from Zeitler on a double-team while Sewell drove rookie defensive end Braden Fiske yards back into the end zone and tight end Sam LaPorta held the edge. Montgomery calmly navigated the clear path for the win.
"Everybody in the huddle was like, 'Let's go win this thing,' " Ragnow said. "We have no doubt. Let's go finish it. And then David was a man possessed."
Campbell credited Montgomery's conditioning for his power as the game wore on. He said Montgomery came into training camp in "outstanding shape" and is a natural bully as a runner.
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"He's reliable," Campbell said. "He runs heavy, he's tough, he's physical, he gets in a rhythm, and I think he's a catalyst for us. He starts carrying it, and he gets better and better, and I think the line feeds off of him, and he feeds off of them, and we get what we get. That guy's a stud, he's a stud."
And Montgomery sounded like he was ready for another series of devastating runs after the game.
"I felt real fresh, honestly," Montgomery said. "We've got a good thing going here with me and Jah, going back and forth, saving each other's energy because we're going to need both of us throughout the whole entire year in order for us to go on a run."
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The Lions averaged 4.5 yards on their 23 carries in regulation, but they came in fits and spurts. Montgomery set the tone early with seven carries for 33 yards in the first quarter, most of which came on a single drive. But for the rest of regulation, the Rams were able to hold the Lions' rushing in check.
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"We knew going into it there was going to be a lot of unknowns," Ragnow said. "A lot of players that weren't on tape, didn't play in the preseason, new coordinator. So we knew they were gonna throw something at us. It took us a while there to adjust and figure it out and I think we got our rhythm there at the end."
Once the Lions found that rhythm on offense again, there wasn't any stopping them, as Montgomery plowed through defenders and, eventually, into the end zone, denying the Rams a chance at an OT stop.
"Nothing against them, I was in the mode though," Montgomery said. "I was already locked in at that point where I felt like I had to prove myself to myself and I felt like that was the greatest opportunity for it to happen — for me to showcase what I'm capable of, but at the same time showing how much grit that that offense and this team has.
"So, being able to go out and close it out — like I said, my O-line, come on now, best O-line in the league. You've got them boys outside of me, blocking the way that they block. you got JG ( Jared Goff ) facilitating everything. So, like I said, I'm just excited we got the win."
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Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering the city's professional teams, the state's two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22 , and email him at jramsey@freepress.com .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions find their mojo in OT behind punishing offensive line
