The Lions were done playing cute once they won the toss and elected to receive to start overtime against the Rams.
Detroit led for the better part of three quarters of its "Sunday Night Football" showdown against Los Angeles before Matthew Stafford engineered a surgical drive midway through the fourth quarter.
The Rams quarterback carved up his former team, targeting star wide receiver Cooper Kupp over and over again until he punched in a go-ahead touchdown with 4:30 to play to put Los Angeles in front, 20-17.
After alternating stalled drives, the Lions tied the game with a 32-yard field goal from rookie kicker Jake Bates to force overtime.
Once Detroit won the toss and elected to receive, head coach Dan Campbell got back to playing hard-nosed, physical football. Here's how the Lions came away with a 26-20 win in overtime against the Rams.
MORE: Detroit beats Los Angeles 26-20 in Week 1 OT thriller
Lions game-winning overtime drive vs. Rams
The Lions only had one gameplan in mind once they received the ball to start overtime: Run the football down the Rams' throat and end the game with a touchdown.
Detroit had some big plays through the air with Jameson Williams breaking out for five receptions, 122 yards, and a touchdown, but Goff had a couple of shaky throws in the fourth quarter.
It was clear that Campbell wanted to play smashmouth football with the game on the line, and it worked.
The Lions only needed eight plays to march 70 yards into the end zone for the win. Five of those eight plays were rushes between the tackles by David Montgomery.
Campbell opened the drive with a jet-sweep to wide receiver Kalif Raymond for a gain of 12, but that was the only touch of flair.
Montgomery collected 30 yards on the next two carries, then Jahmyr Gibbs picked up 10 yards on a catch out of the backfield and another three on the ground.
David Montgomery rumbles for 21 yards!
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2024
📺: #LARvsDET on NBC/Peacock
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Campbell went right back to Montgomery after a quick breather, force-feeding the power back until he found the end zone.
The Lions' offensive line moved the Rams' defensive front on every snap. Montgomery faced a pivotal third-and-one on Los Angeles' nine-yard line and pushed forward eight yards down to the one.
Campbell went right back to a simple dive play as Montgomery punched in the game-winning touchdown with ease.
David Montgomery runs it in for the @Lions win! pic.twitter.com/iKUEHAvgMK
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2024
Jahmyr Gibbs vs. David Montgomery usage
The Lions' backfield could only be labeled as a committee last year, even if Gibbs started to break out when Montgomery suffered a thigh injury late in the regular season.
Given Gibbs' status as the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, fans and fantasy managers expected him to take the reins as a true RB1 this season. Through one game, it seems this backfield will still be a tandem.
| vs. Rams | CAR | RUSH YDS | RUSH TDs | REC | REC YDS |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 11 | 40 | 1 | 4 | 34 |
| David Montgomery | 17 | 91 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Montgomery finished with more carries and total touches than Gibbs, even if Gibbs was outpacing Montgomery until the final overtime drive.
Campbell clearly still likes utilizing the strengths of both running backs, leaning on Gibbs for outside runs and passing downs and Montgomery for between-the-tackles work.
Gibbs fantasy managers can exhale a little bit knowing their star running back still rushed in a goal-line touchdown, but get used to seeing Montgomery vulture goal-line carries all season because if overtime was any indication — his usage isn't going anywhere.
After Sunday night's final drive, why would it?
