Bears T.J. Edwards vs. Detroit Lions Running Backs Is Key Matchup

If you had any doubt earlier this season about the ability of the Lions’ running back tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, you should have no question now. 

The duo excited Lions fans everywhere a week ago against the L.A. Chargers, with a combined 193-yard performance on the ground (including three touchdowns). Montgomery, in his first game since Week 6, led the way with 116 of those yards, which was highlighted by a 75-yard score.

Standing in the way of the Gibbs-Montgomery one-two punch this week is the Chicago Bears’ No. 2-ranked rush defense.

Coming into this Week 11 NFC North divisional affair, the Bears have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards (760), as well as the fewest number of yards per rushing attempt (3.2).

Meanwhile, Gibbs and Montgomery are each averaging at least 4.7 yards a carry, with Gibbs having eclipsed that mark in each of his last four games. Additionally, Montgomery, who played his first four NFL seasons in Chicago, leads all qualified running backs with 83.5 rushing yards per game. 

On Sunday, Detroit's electrifying backfield duo will be challenged by Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards. Edwards, in his first season in the Windy City, has amassed 112 total tackles (the second-most in the league through 10 weeks). He's also graded out as the 13th-best linebacker (80.2), per Pro Football Focus, and is PFF's sixth-highest-graded linebacker against the run (84.5).

Simply put, Edwards is one of the major reasons why it won't be easy for the Lions to run the football against Chicago.

However, it doesn't mean that Detroit will shy away from the “ground-and-pound” in front of its home fans Sunday. It's become the “bread-and-butter” of the Ben Johnson-led offense, and expect it to once again be on full display against the Lions’ divisional rivals from the Windy City. 

Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi knows that Edwards and his linebacker counterparts will have their hands full stopping Detroit's dynamic RB duo of Gibbs and Montgomery. 

“He's unique,” Borgonzi said of Gibbs earlier this week. “He reminds me a little bit of [Alvin] Kamara in New Orleans … where he's really good out of the backfield catching the ball. (It's) an interesting dynamic with Montgomery, who is more of the power back and Gibbs is more of the outside runner but dynamic in the open field, can make people miss but also finishes runs.”

I don't think Gibbs and Montgomery will light up the stat sheet quite like they did a week ago against the Chargers. However, I still believe that they'll end up finishing with a combined 130 rushing yards – give or take a yard or two – in Sunday's Week 11 tilt with the Bears.