Jan. 01--The assignment: Containing Lions receiver Golden Tate (No. 15)
Tate's measurables: 5-foot-10, 198 pounds.
Assigned: Bears cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan (No. 37).
Notable numbers: Tate had a terrific December, recording a team-best 27 catches for 227 yards and four TDs in the month. ... The 27-year-old receiver ranks ninth in the NFL in receptions (86) and had six grabs, 40 yards and a TD in the Lions' first meeting with the Bears.
Scouting report: Calvin Johnson remains the biggest home-run threat in the Lions' passing attack, but Tate's versatility has made him a go-to target for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions will use Tate outside or in the slot, occasionally even shifting him into the backfield. The sixth-year receiver out of Notre Dame is particularly hard to defend on bubble screens and quick-hit catches. And Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has emphasized this week just how difficult Tate can be to bring down. "He's like a running back once he catches the ball," Fangio said.
Word from within: "He's an unusual talent because he's one of those guys who's faster than what you think. He's much quicker than what you'd think. And he's harder to tackle than what you'd think. Plus, he's a very confident young man. You put all those things together, and you've got a pretty dynamic guy who finds a way to come up with big plays at the most opportune times." -- Lions coach Jim Caldwell
