After years of futility, the Detroit Lions broke through last year, winning a playoff game for the first time since the 1991 postseason. However, the 2024 Lions have their sights set on a much bigger prize.

Powered by an explosive offense (which scored an NFL-best 32.1 points per game) and the second-best defense, this year’s team is 12-1 on its schedule and has a one-game lead over the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings for first place in the NFC.

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One of the many offensive weapons Detroit has at its disposal is running back David Montgomery, the stark complement to Jahmyr Gibbs’ lightning speed. Together, Montgomery and Gibbs form the best running back duo in the NFL. The Lions have the league’s fourth-best rushing attack (151.1 yards per game), behind three teams with scrambling quarterbacks.

The 27-year-old Montgomery is tied with Gibbs for the team lead in total touchdowns this fall (12), and all of Montgomery’s come on the ground. His career high in rushing touchdowns is 13, which he set last year, so Montgomery has a good chance of setting a new career high with four regular season games remaining.

His most recent touchdown came last Thursday on a 3-yard plunge in the first quarter of Detroit’s 34-31 win over the rival Green Bay Packers, the first time in franchise history that the Lions have won 11 consecutive games .

#DetroitPeopleMovers paves the way for an opening score @montgomerdavid 🙌#GBvsDET | 📺 @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/e53xQ27shq

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 6, 2024

With a strong finish to the season, Montgomery – who has 771 rushing yards – could also threaten his career high in that category (currently 1,070 with the Chicago Bears in 2020).

“Man, he’s a step backwards for me,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Montgomery last month. “He has retro principles, and I mean that with all due respect. His running style is – it’s rare. … I think (Montgomery) is just different and he goes downhill, he doesn’t give up. The first guy, he doesn’t let him attack him, he keeps twisting his legs and just being violent, violent, never give up, never go down.”

Montgomery was drafted by the Bears out of Iowa State in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft and played his first four seasons there. He signed a three-year deal with Detroit before the 2023 season, but the front office was so impressed with Montgomery’s 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns last year that the team gave him a two-year extension in October.

Montgomery has certainly found a home in Detroit and is thrilled that his contributions are being noticed, but other people’s opinions ultimately aren’t what matters.

“I don’t want to give validation to anyone but God,” Montgomery said in August 2022. “I’m living my life. I am currently on a spiritual journey for myself and I am sure that I always focus on what is important and keep what is important. This is truly God, so I’m going to go out there every day and have the opportunity to do my best. When it’s all said and done, God will take me and put me where I need to be.”

In his X-Biography, Montgomery writes, “All in God’s timing,” accompanied by a picture of his favorite Bible verse, Psalm 27:1. The verse reads: “The Lord is my light and my salvation – who should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – who should I be afraid of?”

On the April 2022 “Faith and Sports Live Podcast,” Montgomery spoke about the meaning of the verse to him.

“It always reminded me that I was protected,” he said. “There is nothing that man can say, do, touch, or penetrate that God has for me. I’m protected.”

YOU ARE AN AWESOME GOD!!!

– David Montgomery (@MontgomerDavid) October 3, 2021

“I’m driven by God,” Montgomery said previously on the podcast. “…just being able to have an open connection with him and always talk to him when things are going badly, but also when things are going really well. Just to praise Him and understand that He was the one who did it and I was just the vessel for it.”

He later continued: “Take the plunge and allow God to catch you, because the faith that I instill in myself and trust in God in the dark, there is no reason why I cannot have the faith and the faith of God can display.” Glory and the gift He has presented to me in the light. … My faith is the most important thing in my life.”

To God be the glory!!!! I will forever love the Cyclon Nation!! pic.twitter.com/0mmSyVYFiN

– David Montgomery (@MontgomerDavid) January 7, 2019

Montgomery strives to be driven by God, even as he helped propel the Lions to the top of the NFL. Together with the Kansas City Chiefs, they have the best record in the league. A win on Sunday in the showdown against the Buffalo Bills (10-3) would give the Lions their 13th win of the season, which would tie a single-season franchise record. Kickoff in Detroit is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET.

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