Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) runs against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions were built to run.

Detroit’s longest-tenured players, offensive tackle Taylor Decker and center Frank Ragnow, were first-round picks in 2016 and 2018.

In general manager Brad Holmes’ first draft with the Lions in 2021, he selected two-time All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell with the No. 7 overall pick.

Detroit bolstered the backfield in 2023, signing free agent David Montgomery and drafting Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round. The Lions also addressed a desperate need in free agency by adding guard Kevin Zeitler last offseason.

The investments have paid off.

Detroit, a top-seeded team in the NFL playoffs for the first time, has one of the league’s best ground games.

While the running backs get much of the praise, Montgomery said the big guys up front deserve more love.

“We’ve got the best O-line in the world,” Montgomery said. “I don’t think they get enough credit. There’s no 1,000-yard scrimmage for me, there’s no almost 2,000 yards scrimmage for Jah.”

The sixth-seeded Washington Commanders, who will play at Detroit on Saturday night in the divisional round, are well aware of the upcoming challenge that will test one of their weaknesses.

“Hats off, they’ve got two backs, very physical, perimeter and whatnot,” Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu said. “But it’s not about them. It’s about us. And when it’s time to make hits, we’re going to make them pay.”

Washington ranked 30th in the 32-team league against the run during the regular season, giving up 137.5 yards rushing per game. In a 23-20 win over Tampa Bay in the wild-card round last Sunday night, the Buccaneers ran for 101 yards.

Gibbs and Montgomery averaged a combined 138.5 yards rushing during the regular season and had fun off the field embracing their Sonic and Knuckles nicknames.

In his second NFL season, Gibbs led the league with a franchise-record 20 touchdowns and ranked fifth with 1,412 yards on the ground. He also had 517 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions.

“Jah is special,” Montgomery said. “He’s a generational talent.”

In his sixth season, Montgomery had 775 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns before a knee injury in the 14th game threatened to end his season.

Montgomery avoided surgery and rested for the final three games of the regular season and took advantage of the team’s bye week.

“I wouldn’t be out there if I wasn’t ready,” he said. “I think it feels better than it did before I got hurt.”

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, a candidate to be an NFL head coach next season, said Montgomery has looked good in practice.

“I expect David to come in and pick up where he left off,” Johnson said.

Gibbs made the most of increased opportunities without sharing carries with Montgomery.

The two-time Pro Bowl player ran for more than 100 yards in three straight games for the first time in his career, and averaged 162.3 yards from scrimmage and scored six touchdowns.

“It’s kind of his show,” Montgomery said.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell, though, said Montgomery is a tone-setting running back the team values and is thankful to have him back.

“It’ll mean a lot — 5’s a big part of us,” he said. “He’s a huge part of us.”

Montgomery said running the football is Detroit’s identity, accomplishing a mission Campbell had when he and general manager Brad Holmes began to lead a long-suffering franchise four years ago.

“I think it creates an attitude,” Campbell said. “I think it creates a style.”

AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno in Ashburn, Virginia, contributed to this report.

Washington (13-5) at Detroit (15-2)

7 p.m., Saturday, FOX

Series record: Washington leads 31-16, including a 3-0 record in playoff games at home.

Last meeting: Lions beat the Commanders 36-27 on Sept. 18, 2022, at Detroit.

Last week: Commanders beat Buccaneers 23-20; Lions had a bye as NFC’s No. 1 seed.

Commanders offense: overall (7), rush (3), pass (17), scoring (5)

Commanders defense: overall (13), rush (30), pass (3), scoring (18)

Lions offense: overall (2), rush (6), pass (2), scoring (1)

Lions defense: overall (20), rush (5), pass (30), scoring (7)

Turnover differential: Commanders plus-1; Lions plus-9

Commanders player to watch

CB Marshon Lattimore. He allowed a handful of catches, including a TD to Mike Evans when matched up against his longtime rival in the wild-card round. The coaching staff eventually put rookie CB Mike Sainristil on Evans and opted to double-team the star WR. Coach Dan Quinn called that a matter of limiting Lattimore’s snaps coming off a hamstring injury. There’s no time to rest Lattimore when Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are on the field, so the Commanders need Lattimore to play at an elite level.

Lions player to watch

RB Jahmyr Gibbs. He was perhaps one of the team’s best players over the past three games, averaging 162.3 yards from scrimmage and scoring six TDs while David Montgomery had a knee injury. Gibbs, who has been voted to the Pro Bowl in each of his two NFL seasons, has run for more than 100 yards in three straight games for the first time in his career. The speedy former Alabama star led the league with a franchise-record 20 touchdowns (16 rushing and four receiving) and ranked fifth in the league with 1,412 yards on the ground. He also had 517 yards receiving.

Key matchup

Detroit’s running game against Washington’s defense. Montgomery will play for the first time in a month, restoring one of the NFL’s best backfields. Gibbs and Montgomery averaged a combined 138.5 yards rushing during the regular season. The Commanders ranked among the league’s worst in run defense, allowing 137.5 yards rushing a game. They gave up 101 yards rushing in last week’s win at Tampa Bay.

Key injuries

Commanders LB Bobby Wagner is expected to play through an ankle injury and rookie LB Jordan Magee (hamstring) is likely out. … Lions rookie CB Terrion Arnold (foot) said he’s ready to play after leaving the regular-season finale with an injury while guard Kevin Zeitler (hamstring) was held out of practice Wednesday and Thursday after being hurt in the previous game. … CB Ennis Rakestraw was held out of multiple practices this week because of a hamstring injury and an illness.

Series notes

These franchises last met in the playoffs in the 1999 season. The previous times they played in the postseason (1982 and 1991), Washington went on to win the Super Bowl.

Stats and stuff

Washington is coming off its first playoff win in 19 years and is aiming for its first NFC championship game since 1991. … The Commanders have won five in a row, all on the final play from scrimmage in regulation or overtime. Jayden Daniels’ became the fourth rookie in NFL history to win his first career playoff start. Daniels was 24 of 35 for 268 yards passing and two TDs at Tampa Bay. He also ran 13 times for 36 yards to be the team’s leading rusher.

Commanders RBs Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez have combined to run 85 times for 190 yards over the past five games, an average of 2.24 yards a carry. … WR Dyami Brown had five catches for 89 yards and a TD in the wild-card win.

The Lions are the NFC’s only team in the divisional round for a second straight year. … They have not won a playoff game in two straight years since 1952-53. … Detroit won a franchise-record 15 games and back-to-back division titles for the first time.

The Lions are 37-10, including a 2-1 mark in the playoffs, since Week 9 of the 2022 season and only two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City has more victories during that span.

The Lions have an NFL-high 151 fourth down attempts under coach Dan Campbell, the first coach to go for it that many times since at least 1991. … The Jared Goff-led offense scored an NFL-high 33.2 points per game. … Gibbs ran for a TD in all three playoff games last season and has 34 in 35 career games. … LB Jack Campbell had a team- and career-high 125 tackles. … In five home games, DE Za’Darius Smith had four sacks.