Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are on a historic pace

Going against the grain has worked well for the Detroit Lions, and it was never shown more than when they took running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft about a month after signing David Montgomery in free agency.

More recently, they also went against the grain by signing Montgomery to a two-year contract extension with a year-plus left on his original deal.

Last season, Montgomery and Gibbs both had double-digit rushing touchdowns (13 and 10 respectively). Montgomery topped 1,000 yards on the ground (1,015), while Gibbs had 945 rushing yards. Two 1,000-yard rushers on the same team in the same season is very rare air in NFL history, and "Sonic and Knuckles" (the new nickname for Gibbs and Montgomery) almost did it last season.

Through eight games this season, they have a chance to get it done this time around.

David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibb are on a historic pace

"On pace" statistics are always a little hard to fully buy into, especially only halfway through a season. But let's indulge it here with Montgomery and Gibbs.

Through eight games this season, Gibbs has 656 rushing yards. That's a 1,394-yard pace over 17 games. Montgomery has 488 rushing yards, which is a 1,037-yard pace over 17 games.

Just seven teams in NFL history have had two 1,000-yard rushers in a season.

1972 Miami Dolphins: Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris
1976 Pittsburgh Steelers: Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier
1985 Cleveland Browns: Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner
2006 Atlanta Falcons: Warrick Dunn and Michael Vick
2008 New York Giants: Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward
2009 Carolina Panthers: Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams
2019 Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram

Gibbs could fall pretty well off his current pace (82 rushing yards per game) and still top 1,000 rushing yards this year. Montgomery needs to more or less maintain his pace (61 yards per game) to get there.

If Gibbs and Montgomery both end up topping 1,000 rushing yards this season, there will naturally be some people who will put an asterisk on the accomplishment because of a 17-game season. But there's no denying how well the Lions' backfield duo is working, probably better then even the most optimistic visions general manager Brad Holmes had after adding both guys.