Who is the No. 1 wide receiver for the Detroit Lions? Do they even have one?
"In my mind we just have three No. 1 receivers," veteran wide receiver Golden Tate said Monday. "Pick your poison. I think we've all started off pretty hot. It's a good problem to have, having three dominant receivers."
Tate currently leads the Lions in both catches (20) and yards (257) through the first three weeks of the season. But second-year receiver Kenny Golladay has just one fewer catch (19) and one less yard (256) than Tate.
The there's Marvin Jones Jr., who is one of the best deep threats in the game, and who leads the group with a 14.8 average per catch.
Consider this, Tate, Golladay and Jones recorded 50 or more receiving yards for the third straight game Sunday night in the win over the Patriots. They are the only trio of wide receiver teammates to each record 50 or more receiving yards in the first three weeks of the season.
"We go into the week saying that they're going to double someone, probably, and that leaves someone else room to eat," Golladay said. "We all just take it as a challenge. Whoever gets one on one, we're just trying to make plays for this team and help the ball get moved down the field."
Golladay logged six or more receptions for the third straight game to start the season, the longest such streak of his career, and recorded a touchdown reception for his second straight game, the first touchdown streak of his career.
Tate's caught at least six passes in each of his first three games this season too.
Jones has now recorded 50 or more receiving yards in his last 10 games, the third longest active streak in the NFL and tied for the fourth longest streak in Lions history.
This has been an impressive receiving trio early this year for the Lions. We'll be looking for more of the same Sunday in Dallas against a stingy Cowboys pass defense that ranks fourth in the NFL (182.7 ypg).
Pro Football Focus Week 3 stats:
Top 3 graded players on offense by Pro Football Focus vs. Patriots (at least 10 snaps):
- G Frank Ragnow 82.5
- RB Kerryon Johnson 74.6
- T Taylor Decker 71.9
Bottom 3 graded players on offense by Pro Football Focus vs. Patriots (at least 10 snaps):
- RB LeGarrette Blount 49.4
- WR TJ Jones 53.7
- TE Luke Willson 62.6
Top 3 graded players on defense by Pro Football Focus vs. Patriots (at least 10 snaps):
- CB Darius Slay 81.9
- DE Romeo Okwara 80.9
- LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin 73.9
Bottom 3 graded players on defense by Pro Football Focus vs. Patriots (at least 10 snaps):
- LB Jarrad Davis 29.8
- S Quandre Diggs 49.5
- S Glover Quin 56.3
Here are some other statistics, both good and bad, for the Lions after three weeks of football:
- At 21 years and 85 days old, rookie running back Kerryon Johnson became the second youngest Lions running back to top 100 yards rushing in a game. Barry Sanders did it at 21 years and 70 days old in 1989 against the Bears.
- The Lions held the Patriots to 209 total net yards of offense last Sunday, the fewest the Lions have allowed since holding the Giants to 197 total yards on Sept. 8, 2014. It's only the third time since 2007 the Patriots have produced fewer than 210 yards of total offense.
- Detroit is first in the NFL in sacks allowed with just three. In terms of generating sacks on defense, the 10 for the Lions' defense are the fourth most in the league.
- Linebackers Eli Harold and Devon Kennard rank sixth in the NFL in sacks with 3.0 each.
- First and last: The Lions have allowed the fewest passing yards per contest (152.0), but the most rushing yards (149.3) per game.
- The Lions currently rank last in the NFL in red-zone scoring (touchdowns) at just 30 percent (3 for 10). Detroit's five field goals in the red zone are the most in the NFL.
