Wide receiver Golden Tate is off to a terrific start to his 2018 season, but that's not too much of a surprise given his level of production the last four years in Detroit.
He's caught more than 90 passes in each of his four seasons in Detroit. Since joining the team in 2014, Tate has logged 41 games with six or more receptions, trailing only Antonio Brown (46) among the league's receivers.
Tate hit another impressive benchmark Sunday in his eight-catch, 132-yard, two-touchdown performance in the loss to Dallas.
He reached 400 receptions with the Lions on his 38-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
Tate becomes the quickest Lion to ever reach 400 receptions, doing so in just 68 games. The next fastest Lion to reach 400 receptions was Calvin Johnson, who needed 81 games to reach the mark.
In four games this season, Tate has caught 28 passes for 389 yards and a couple scores. His catches rank 11th in the NFL, and he's ninth in receiving yards. His nine receptions on third down are the fifth most in the league.
Tate's play through four games has certainly been one of the bright spots for the Lions (1-3) early on this season.
Pro Football Focus Week 4 stats:
Top 3 graded players on offense by Pro Football Focus vs. Cowboys (at least 10 snaps):
- WR Golden Tate (92.6)
- QB Matthew Stafford (90.2)
- RT Rick Wagner (75.1)
Bottom 3 graded players on offense by Pro Football Focus vs. Cowboys (at least 10 snaps):
- G Kenny Wiggins (47.5)
- WR TJ Jones (52.7)
- G T.J. Lang (57.7)
Top 3 graded players on defense by Pro Football Focus vs. Cowboys (at least 10 snaps):
- CB Darius Slay (84.1)
- CB Nevin Lawson (79.0)
- S Glover Quin (78.7)
Bottom 3 graded players on defense by Pro Football Focus vs. Cowboys (at least 10 snaps):
- LB Eli Harold (28.6)
- LB Christian Jones (33.0)
- CB Jamal Agnew (33.7)
Here are some other statistics, both good and bad, for the Lions after four weeks of football:
- Running back Kerryon Johnson ranks second among rookie runners in yards per attempt (5.7). His 216 yards are the fourth most among rookies.
- Detroit's run defense ranks last in the NFL, allowing 157.8 yards per game on the ground. The league average is 106.7.
- Tate, Marvin Jones Jr. and Kenny Golladay each recorded 50-plus receiving yards against Dallas. They are the only trio of teammates to record 50 or more receiving yards in every game this season.
- Two Lions defenders who had some issues in coverage vs. Dallas were linebacker Jarrad Davis and Agnew, the slot cornerback. Prescott was 4-for-4 for 76 yards and a touchdown throwing at Davis, per PFF stats. Prescott completed six of the eight passes he threw into Agnew's coverage for 93 yards.
- Since entering the NFL in 2009, Stafford has thrown 25 touchdowns of 45-or-more yards and 35 touchdowns of 35-or-more yards.
- The Lions are third in the NFL in red zone defense (35.7 percent). They are last in red zone offense (33.3 percent).
- Detroit's three takeaways on the season rank just 25th in the NFL.
