Detroit Lions: Week 15 Game Ball: Golden Tate

When the Detroit Lions visited the New York Giants in week 15, several players stood out but it was Golden Tate who performed the best and took home this week’s Detroit Jock City Game Ball.

The Detroit Lions and New York Giants both entered this game with a 9-4 record. This game was important to both teams because it would heavily impact each teams playoff chances and possible playoff seeding. But the Lions came out flat on the road and missed multiple opportunities to control this game. It was a tough loss that the Lions will have to try to recover for next week in Dallas on Monday Night Football.

Despite the poor overall team performance, there we’re a few Lions players who stood out positively today. On a day where the offense only produces 273 receiving yards, Golden Tate had 122 of them. While some players had a good quarter or series, Tate was consistent throughout the game and that’s why he won this weeks Detroit Jock City Game Ball.

Golden Tate had eight catches on the day but none was bigger than this 67-yarder in the second quarter:

Golden Tate found ways to get open. Double moves, quick slants, gadget plays, no one was thrown at more than Tate’s 13 targets. In a game where most of the Lions struggles, Tate was one of the few players who was a difference maker today.

Golden Tate played the entire game, and I’m not sure when he was hurt, but Dave Birkett is reporting that he is being evaluated for an injury. If he was playing injured, it makes his performance all the more impressive. This situation will be worth monitoring as the Lions playoff hopes are looming.

Other Consistent Players

Matt Prater made both of his field goal opportunities today, hitting from 48 and 33. He has been incredibly successful this season and is closing in on Jason Hanson’s records for most field goals in a season, in Lions history.

Tahir Whitehead gets dinged a lot because of his man-to-man coverage skills, but he continues to put himself in good spots on the field and make his tackles count. He finished his day with 12 tackles, including one for loss, and made two critical third down stops.

Quick Hits

• This was Anquan Boldin’s 200th career game, he had three catches for 13 yards, but two of them came on important third downs.
• Sam Martin’s first quarter 63 yard punt, tied a season long.
• Rookie Anthony Zettel had his first career sack.
• Ziggy Ansah got his first sack of the year.
• Brandon Copeland blocked a punt.
• Andre Roberts executed the Packers Special Teams move on the Giants.

Next: NFL Draft: All-Big Ten Draft Team

Regular Season Game Ball Winners:

Week 1: Theo Riddick
2: Devin Taylor
3: Marvin Jones
4: Andre Roberts
5: Darius Slay
6: Matthew Stafford
7: Matthew Stafford… Again
8: Theo Riddick
9: Matt Prater
11: The Safeties
12: Darius Slay
13: Golden Tate
14: Matthew Stafford

Preseason Game Ball Winners:
Week 1: Zach Zenner
2: Tahr Whitehead
3: Haloti Ngata
4: Kerry Hyder