The Detroit Lions have won 11 games straight for the first time ever. They are now 12-2 this season. We can see improvement already, with last year’s final record being 12-5. 12-2 and 12-5 are significantly good records, but it wasn’t always this way. Let’s take a look back at a few decades of the history of the Lions. The average record of the Lions over the last 20 years is considered horrendous by many critics, being 5-11. In fact, in 2008, the Lions went 0-16, the only winless season and the worst record in NFL history. So why, suddenly, are the Detroit Lions having these great seasons?
There are a few factors, and one of them is their new coach, Dan Campbell. His fierce mentality and grit brought back the life of the Detroit Lions team and fans. Another significant factor was the additions of their two-star running backs, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery is a complete powerhouse. He is a muscular tank who, when it comes to being tackled, doesn’t go down without a fight. Then we have Gibbs, one of, if not the quickest players in the NFL. His acceleration from the backfield makes it incredibly difficult for him to catch and tackle once he reaches top speed. Their strengths come together well and are unstoppable. Because of this, they have proven their potential to be the best running-back duo in the history of the NFL.
These two backs made a name for themselves because of their impact on this team. Their characteristics are opposite, making them complement each other so well. Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery gave these two running backs a nickname that quickly spread across social media. He called them “Sonic and Knuckles,” originating from the video game Sonic and Knuckles. Jahmyr Gibbs is Sonic because of his speed, and David Montgomery is Knuckles because of his power.
Now, let’s fast forward to the Lions’ future. Although the Lions face massive injury problems on defense this season, they are still Super Bowl favorites. With the Lions’ win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night football, they clinched a spot in the playoffs. As we approach the playoffs, they seem unstoppable with their momentum, but anything could happen. Will the Lions return to their old ways, or will they overcome and prevail?
