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- Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) and defensive tackle Broderick Washington (96) during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.

David Montgomery: The Unsung Hero Silencing Doubters in Detroit

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Sep 23, 2025 5:00 AM ET

In the world of the NFL and Montgomery, narratives get spun faster than a quarterback scrambles from a blitz. For the Detroit Lions, the story has often been about the flashy new draft picks and the electric, younger talent. Jahmyr Gibbs, with his blistering speed and highlight-reel potential, has been the shiny new toy everyone wants to talk about. And hey, it makes sense. He’s exciting. But while everyone was busy anointing the new kid, they seemed to forget about the steady, powerful force rumbling in the backfield. That force has a name: David Montgomery.

On Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, Montgomery decided it was time for a rather loud reminder of who he is. It wasn’t just a good game; it was a statement. A career night, in fact. One that felt less like a performance and more like a declaration: don’t you dare forget about me.

Montgomery’s Masterclass in Grit

Let’s be real for a second. The modern NFL landscape often favors versatility and speed over pure, unadulterated power. Running backs are expected to be Swiss Army knives—catching passes out of the backfield, splitting out wide, and generally being offensive chess pieces. Montgomery, while capable, has always been more of a sledgehammer. He’s the guy you call when you need a tough yard, the guy who sees a pile of defenders and thinks, “That looks like a fun ramp.”

Against the Ravens, he was that and so much more. While Gibbs has been getting more touches, as expected for a high-draft-pick entering his third season, David made every single one of his opportunities count. He ran with the kind of anger and determination that makes you want to check if he left the stove on. Every carry was a battle, a personal affront to the defender trying to bring him down. He wasn’t just running for first downs; he was running for respect.

The Touchdown That Shook Baltimore

The defining moment came late in the fourth quarter. The Lions needed to put the game away. Up by a score, but not comfortably, they faced a crucial fourth down. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Then, the play call came. Give it to David. He broke through the line, and suddenly, there was nothing but green turf in front of him.

Hilariously, cameras caught quarterback Jared Goff frantically gesturing for him to get down before the end zone—the smart, clock-killing play. But Montgomery had other plans. He wasn’t just thinking about the clock; he was thinking about the dagger. He blasted into the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown, effectively sealing the game.

It was a moment of pure, instinctual football. While Goff was playing chess, Montgomery was flipping the whole board over. You have to love the beautiful, chaotic energy of it. It was the perfect encapsulation of David Montgome: why be tactical when you can be dominant?

Why Montgomery is the Heartbeat of the Lions

This performance wasn’t an anomaly. It’s who Montgomery has always been. He’s the emotional core of the Lions‘ offense, the guy whose grit is contagious. When the “Sonic and Knuckles” duo of Gibbs and Montgomery are both firing, this offense becomes a nightmare to defend. Gibbs might be the lightning, but Montgomery is the thunder that shakes the ground and wears defenses down to a nub.

Having a player like Montgomery is a luxury most teams would kill for. He provides a perfect counterbalance to Gibbs‘ style. You can’t just prepare for speed; you have to prepare for a bruising, relentless assault. As defenses get tired from tackling a 220-pound battering ram all game, Gibbs finds more open space.

It’s a symbiotic relationship that elevates the entire offense. So, while the pundits and fantasy football managers continue to obsess over the new and flashy, let’s give a nod to the guy who just puts his head down and works. David Montgomery might not always get the headlines, but he consistently gets the job done. Monday night was a powerful reminder that in a league obsessed with finesse, there’s still a very important place for pure, unadulterated power. And in Detroit, that power wears number 5.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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