The Detroit Lions lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson over the offseason, but that hasn’t hurt them much to this point in 2025.
The team lost a disappointing Week 1 affair against the Green Bay Packers, though they put on a drubbing against Johnson’s new team, the Chicago Bears, scoring 52 points in the Week 2 blowout. Heading into Monday night’s clash against the Baltimore Ravens, the team ranked fourth in yards per game (378.5) and fourth in points (32.5).
Like years past, a lot of that credit belongs to the running back tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The two added to their growing legacy on Monday night, setting the NFL record for most games in which running back teammates both rushed for a touchdown.
Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery Set NFL RB Record
Heading into the Ravens game, Gibbs had rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown through the Lions’ first two games, while Montgomery sat at 82 yards and a touchdown.
When both running backs added a touchdown to their ledger in the first half of the Monday Night Football clash, they set a new NFL record, living up to their “Sonic and Knuckles” nickname.
Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery passed some prestigious company 👀 pic.twitter.com/9cG8zurTBc
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 23, 2025
All of the running backs they passed — Paul Hornung, Jim Taylor, Hugh McElhenny, and Joe Perry — are in the NFL Hall of Fame. Hornung and Taylor set their record with the Green Bay Packers, while McElhenny and Perry did so with the San Francisco 49ers.
In the first half, Montgomery led the team in the rushing attack, carrying the ball seven times for 31 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. Gibbs was less efficient, rushing for just 19 yards on 11 totes.
Even without Johnson calling the plays, they continue to be the engine of the Lions’ elite offense. Montgomery scored a team-leading 25 touchdowns between 2023-24, while Gibbs has been named a Pro Bowler in both of his first two seasons. Both running backs have gone over 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of the past two campaigns, the only teammates in the league to have accomplished that feat.
Seeing as Montgomery consistently plays about 40% of the offense’s snaps (48% in 2023, 41% in 2024) while Gibbs covers the other ~60%, they should have plenty of opportunities to add on to their new record.
The Lions and Ravens were tied at 14-14 at halftime of their Monday Night Football matchup. If the experts are to be believed, this game could be serving as an early-season Super Bowl preview.