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Detroit Lions find their mojo in OT behind punishing offensive line

Vaseline September 9, 2024

On Sunday night’s key play, the right side of the Detroit Lions offensive line created a large hole, allowing David Montgomery to reach the end zone.

The Lions regained their team identity when it mattered most in overtime of their season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. After tying the game with a field goal in the final moments of regulation, the Lions won the coin toss and proceeded to pound the Rams on the ground with their only possession of the extra period. The Lions ran on seven of eight plays and covered 60 yards on the winning drive.

“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 get through and break tackles. It was just that some things just started to go full tilt.”

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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 with a run behind Zeitler and Penei Sewell to 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 over again.

“We’re tough to break down, so we did what we had to do,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “And our defense held up. Before that, (Lions punter Jack) Fox made a great punt and (the) defense held up, offense, we got it back, and we got it in overtime. We won the toss, and we never looked back.”

Montgomery took a handoff from the shotgun to the 9-yard line, then wore down defenders on the next handoff to the 1. It set up a dominant showing from the Lions’ blockers: Frank Ragnow pancaked Kobie Turner over the middle with help from Zeitler on a double-team while Sewell drove rookie defensive end Braden Fiske back yards into the end zone and tight end Sam LaPorta held the edge. Montgomery calmly navigated the clear path to victory.

“Everybody in the huddle was like, ‘Let’s win this thing,'” Ragnow said. “There’s no doubt in our minds. Let’s finish it off. And then David was a man possessed.”

Campbell credited Montgomery’s fitness for his strength as the game progressed. He said Montgomery entered training camp in “great shape” and is a natural bully as a runner.

“He’s reliable,” Campbell said. “He runs heavy, he’s tough, he’s physical, he gets into a rhythm, and I think he’s a catalyst for us. He’s starting to carry it, and he’s getting better, and I think the line comes from him, and he comes from them, and we get what we get. The guy’s a stud, he’s a stud.”

And Montgomery sounded like he was ready for another series of devastating post-game runs.

“I felt really fresh, honestly,” Montgomery said. “We’ve got a good thing going here with Jah and I, back and forth, saving each other’s energy because we’re both going to need us to be able to run all year.”

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The Lions averaged 4.5 yards on their 23 carries in regulation, but it was a bit of a struggle. 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 remainder of regulation, the Rams were able to contain the Lions’ rushing.

“We knew there were going to be a lot of unknowns going into it,” Ragnow said. “A lot of players not on tape, not playing in preseason, new coordinator. So we knew they were going to throw something at us. It took us a little while to adjust and figure it out and I think we got into a rhythm by the end.”

Once the Lions found a rhythm on offense, they were unstoppable. Montgomery weaved through defenders and eventually got into the end zone, leaving the Rams no chance to put the ball away in overtime.

“Nothing against them, I was in the mode,” Montgomery said. “I was already stuck at that point where I felt like I had to prove myself to myself and I felt like this was the best opportunity for that to happen — for me to show what I’m capable of, but at the same time show how much grit this offense and this team has.

“So, being able to go out there and close it out — like I said, my O-line, come on now, best O-line in the league. You got those guys outside of me, blocking the way they block. You got JG (Jared Goff) facilitating everything. So, like I said, I’m just happy 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 top two universities and more. Follow Jared at X @jared_ramsey22 and email him at [email protected].