The Pittsburgh Steelers, on average, allow 120.9 rushing yards per game this season.
They only allowed De'Von Achane, the running back with the 3rd-most rushing yards this season, 60 yards on the ground in Week 15 en route to a huge victory. In the process, they eliminated the Miami Dolphins from the postseason, something they could do again in Week 16 if they are just as successful at stopping Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Keeping the run game going is going to be critical to the Lions' ability to win this contest, especially considering the team is 0-6 on the season when Gibbs rushes for less than 70 yards. Containing him is likely a huge part to the Steelers' game plan for this week, and it's a huge concern for the Lions with how poor their offensive line has been at moving tougher defensive fronts this year.
Steelers' Achane game plan could foil Gibbs, Montgomery in Week 15
According to ESPN's Brooke Pryor, the work that the Steelers did to keep Achane extremely limited in his touches might not be replicable against a much tougher offensive juggernaut in the Lions - that doesn't mean that it won't be attempted, anyway.
"Led by a stout run defense, Pittsburgh held Miami in check as its offense put together its most complete performance of the season with four consecutive touchdown drives for the first time since the 2018 season. Not only were the Steelers missing T.J. Watt (lung), but they also took the field without rookie first-round pick Derrick Harmon (knee) for the third week in a row. And yet, they held De'Von Achane to 60 yards on 12 carries. But now, the Steelers will face an even tougher test Sunday in Detroit against the tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery."
Montgomery is going to be a sticking point in this game after another game went by where the Lions completely went away from him in a spot where he might've thrived: in moments where Detroit needed a stronger, tougher run game to get going as opposed to one leaning on Gibbs' speed.
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Gibbs struggles to get anything going up the gut of a bad Lions offensive line, whereas Montgomery can often churn out yards thanks to his size and strength, anyway. It's something that might even be beginning to bother Montgomery himself, who recently took to social media to (cryptically) express some potential frustrations about his usage.
Detroit has to remember that they're helming one of the nastiest duos in the backfield in the league, and using both in heavy doses early against this Steelers defense could put them on their heels.
Not taking advantage of what they have waiting in the wings, and leaning fully on Gibbs against a fairly tough defensive front, could spell disaster for a Lions offense that relies upon Gibbs and Montgomery to free things up for Jared Goff and the rest of their scoring options.