The Detroit Lions had an incredible weekend, securing their fourth win of the 2025-26 campaign on Sunday, October 5, with a 37-24 triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals. Although the Lions were expected to win this matchup, it was still exciting to see them claim a road victory and improve their record to 4-1. With every NFL team now having at least one loss, Detroit stands tied with a few elite teams for the best record — a mark worth celebrating.
While the win carried weight for the entire Detroit Lions roster, the victory over Cincinnati held extra meaning for one particular player. This game came from the heart for him, as his family was in attendance. Though many athletes have loved ones in the crowd, this situation was special and carried an emotional touch.
For David Montgomery, the victory over the Bengals was deeply personal. His family was cheering for him throughout the contest, and it was the first time his sister had seen him play since being involved in a car accident last year.
“Super meaningful,” he told reporters. “My sister hadn’t watched me play in person since her accident. But getting her here meant everything. I’m really thankful to the Cincinnati Bengals for helping out — they made sure she could get onto the field. That was incredibly special, and I’m grateful for that.”
The NFL also highlighted the emotional scene on social media, writing, “David Montgomery’s sister Kiki was in a car crash a year and a half ago. Today, she got to watch her brother score a touchdown live.”
Montgomery went on to share how significant it was to play in his hometown. “Super, super meaningful,” he expressed. “To return to where it all started for me, to be able to represent home and show love to where my journey began, that made it truly memorable.”
Dan Campbell Reflects on Lions’ Victory
After the win, Campbell said he “told the team that was a solid win, and we’ll take it.” He admitted that there are still areas to “clean up” and that it “wasn’t perfect,” but emphasized that “we did exactly what needed to be done.”
“I thought our guys came ready to battle,” he continued. “We fought hard, and the best part is how we played complementary football. That’s what great teams consistently do.”
Discussing the defense, he explained, “We focus on it every day in practice. We have a takeaway circuit, just like ball security for offense. Right after warmups, we drill it, coach it, and emphasize it. We don’t want that to just be talk.”
He added, “The guys are hungry for takeaways. When you make it your mission to go after the ball or go claim it out of the air, good things tend to happen.”
The Lions won’t reach their bye week until Week 8, so they have a few more matchups ahead before getting a well-earned break.
