Detroit Lions: Golden Tate Will Be X-Factor in Week 5

By Fuad Shalhout @shalhoutf on September 30, 2014

Getty Images

When the Detroit Lions signed Golden Tate in the offseason, they envisioned exactly the guy they’ve seen play so well for them this season.

In the upcoming matchup against theBuffalo Bills, Tate will be critical. Calvin Johnson is dealing with an ankle injury and is nowhere near 100 percent. The Lions will need Tate to carry the load, just like he did last week against the New York Jets.

Matthew Stafford targeted him 10 times and he caught eight passes for 116 yards, his fourth career 100-yard game. He proved he can he a No. 1 option.

“That’s huge,” Johnson said. “Matt [Stafford] and myself talked about that after the game. That was big-time what Golden did today. That’s what we brought him here for.”

Tate has been extremely reliable, too. Entering Sunday, he had nine third-down catches on 11 targets for 122 yards. On Sunday, he had two more third-down catches — two of the six third downs the Lions converted — for 46 yards, including a 35-yard catch-and-run on the Lions’ first drive that led to a field goal, according to ESPN. The most glowing thing people love about Tate is his hands — he just never drops any passes; something the Lions have needed for years.

“He has great hands,” Lions running back Reggie Bush said. “You guys saw it today. He’s a huge playmaker for us. We’ve seen that throughout the season and you’ve seen that throughout his career. I’m glad he’s on our team. That guy is a big spark for us.”

Tate will need to keep up his great play this week, especially with an injured Megatron. And it wouldn’t be wise to bet against him doing so.

Fuad Shalhout is a Detroit Pistons writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google