After winning the overtime coin toss, the Detroit Lions imposed their will on the Los Angeles Rams on the drive for the walk-off game-winning touchdown in Week 1. Five of the eight plays on that winning drive, covering 45 of the 70 yards, were David Montgomery runs. A 21-yard run on Montgomery's first carry of the drive set the tone for what was to come, as he announced to the uninitiated how valuable he is.
A must-see segment during NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" on Tuesdays during the season is Kyle Brandt's "Angry Runs", celebrating old-fashioned aggression from those who tote the football each week. The Lions have won the coveted "scepter" a couple times in recent years (D'Andre Swift in Week 5 of 2021, Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 8 last year).
Up against segment king Najee Harris and what was sure to be a week-winning move from Seahawks' running back Kenneth Walker, Montgomery was the third nominee during Week 1's "Angry Runs" segment.
David Montgomery takes home "Angry Runs" scepter for Week 1
Since the NFL doesn't allow full video embeds from their YouTube channel, here's the link to Brandt's "Angry Runs" presentation for Week 1. Here's what he said when he got to Montgomery.
"Detroit's like yeah, these overtime rules, they're kinda confusing. Let me clear these rules up. Here's what happens in overtime. You lose the toss, dummies, then we punch you in the face nine times and the game is over. Those are the overtime rules. Any questions?"
Brandt then went with a comparison to the "Bad Boys" Detroit Piston teams from back in the day, tabbing Penei Sewell as Rick Mahorn and Aidan Hutchinson as Bill Laimbeer upon showing their reactions to Montgomery's game-winning score.
Aidan Hutchinson is a MOOD after the overtime win. 😤 #OnePride pic.twitter.com/cAj42bDXBD
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 9, 2024
Co-host Peter Schrager was the only co-host to nominate Montgomery, with shout-outs for Hutchinson and Sewell for their reactions.
Brandt anointed Montgomery as the Week 1 "Angry Runs" winner, for the body of work on the game-winning drive more than a single run.
"There is one monument that is known most to all tourists and all visitors and all residents of Detroit, and it is a fist", Brandt said. "And that is exactly what they threw in Week 1. This thing's going to Detroit. David Montgomery, welcome to 'Scepterville'."
The touchdown run was the punctuation of the Lions imposing their will on the Rams' defensive line during the game-winning drive. So if one run can be singled out as the "angriest", it has to be that one. In any case, the scepter is coming to Detroit and if history shows anything the Lions' social media team will have a cool response to Brandt.