DETROIT LIONS VS ATLANTA FALCONS BY THE NUMBERS
The following is from the Detroit Lions’ 26-30 loss against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, September 24, 2017 at Ford Field.
INTERCEPTION RETURN TOUCHDOWNS
The Lions defense, via S Glover Quin’s 25-yard interception return against the Falcons, have now recorded two interception return touchdowns in the first three games of the season for the first time since 1967. The team has now accomplished this for the third time in team history, including 1967 (2) and 1950 (2).
TOTAL RETURN TOUCHDOWNS
Detroit has now recorded three total return touchdowns in the first three games of the season, including the following returns:
With three total return touchdowns in the first three games of the season, Detroit has tallied the most by the club through three games for the fifth time in team history and first since 1992. The Lions have accomplished this in 1950 (4), 1954 (3), 1971 (3), 1992 (3) and 2017 (3).
TEAM INTERCEPTIONS
With three interceptions against the Falcons, including two by CB Darius Slay and one by Glover Quin, the Lions now have recorded seven interceptions (3 vs. Arizona 9/10; 1 at NYG 9/18 and 3 vs. Atl 9/23) through the first three games of the 2017 season. Detroit’s defense has now intercepted seven passes through the first three games for the first time since 1971 (7). It is the 13th time since 1940 that the Lions have recorded 7+ interceptions through three games.
TEAM TAKEAWAYS
Detroit has now recorded 8 total takeaways (7 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery) through three games, which are the most by the team in the first three games of the season since 2011 (8).
K MATT PRATER
In the second quarter, K Matt Prater put the Lions on the board with a 55-yard field goal. On his successful kick, Prater became the second player in NFL history make 10 career 55+-yard field goals. He joins K Sebastian Janikowski (13) as the only players in League history to make at least 10 55-yarders. With the Lions, Prater has now made five field goals of at least 55 yards.
With 11:48 left in the fourth quarter, Prater made a 57-yard field goal. The successful attempt was Prater’s 12th-straight successful 50+-yard field goal attempt, which ties an NFL record held by K Robbie Gould (2010-13), K Blair Walsh (2012-13) and K Justin Tucker (2015-16).
Prater now joins K Jason Hanson (1992-2012) as the only kickers in team history to make 2 50+-yard field goals in at least two different games. For his career, this marks the fourth game he has registered 2 50+-yard field goals.
Against the Falcons, Prater made four field goals, including from 55, 40, 35 and 57 yards. It was the third time since he joined the Lions in 2014 that he has made at least four field goals in a game (4 vs. SF 12/24/15; 5 at NO 12/4/16). In his career, he has now made 4+ field goals in a single game eight different times.
WR GOLDEN TATE
WR Golden Tate recorded 7 receptions for 58 yards and 1 touchdown against Atlanta. With seven receptions, Tate surpassed 300 receptions since joining the Lions in 2014, and now has 301 with Detroit. He reached 300 receptions faster than any player in team history by accomplishing this feat in 51 games. He broke the previous best of 66 games to 300 catches by WR Calvin Johnson.
With 301 receptions with Detroit, Tate is now tied with TE Brandon Pettigrew (301, 2009-16) for the EIGHTH-MOST receptions in Lions history.
S GLOVER QUIN
S Glover Quin returned an interception for a 25-yard touchdown in the second quarter against Atlanta. It was Quin’s second-career interception return for a touchdown and his first since opening day at the San Diego Chargers (9/13/2015).
Quin now has 23 career interceptions and two on the season. With the pick, he becomes the 11th player in team history to register 2+ interceptions in five straight seasons. Quin is the first Lions defensive player to accomplish this since CB Bruce McNorton from 1983-87. Quin also became the 14th player in team history to record 2+ interceptions in five different seasons.
Since joining the Lions in 2013, Quin has recorded 18 interceptions.
CB DARIUS SLAY
With an interception in the third quarter, CB Darius Slay recorded his first interception of the 2017 season. In the fourth quarter, Slay recorded his second pick against Atlanta bringing his career total to eight interceptions. His performance against the Falcons marked Slay’s first-career game with two interceptions.
QB MATTHEW STAFFORD
QB Matthew Stafford threw one touchdown pass vs. the Falcons and now has SEVEN touchdown passes in the first three games for the SECOND consecutive season. He became the only quarterback in franchise history to start the season with 7+ touchdown passes over the first three games in two-straight seasons. In 2016, he also tossed seven touchdowns in the first three games.
LS DON MUHLBACH
Against Atlanta, LS Don Muhlbach played in his 199th career game. He is currently one game shy of tying Wayne Walker (200, 1958-72) for third place on the team’s all-time list.
DT A’SHAWN ROBINSON
In the second quarter against the Falcons, DT A’Shawn Robinson recorded his first pass defense of the 2017 season. He now has eight career pass defenses in his first two seasons.
DE JEREMIAH VALOAGA
Lions DE Jeremiah Valoaga sacked Falcons QB Matt Ryan for a 6-yard loss in the first quarter. The sack was the first of Valoaga’s career.
Detroit Lions schedule