Author: Paula Pasche

ALLEN PARK >> First, of all know that Lions wide receiver Golden Tate respects the Giants defense.

“The Giants’ secondary, they’re fantastic. Last year they had 12 turnovers between picks and fumbles. They’re a very dangerous group of guys,’’ Tate said. “We definitely have to be on our game. We can’t come out flat like we did last week. We’re excited about it. Who doesn’t want a challenge?”

That said, the Giants defense will face their own type of challenge, especially with the Lions offense, on Monday night at MetLife Stadium. It’ll be their first time going up against rookie wide receiver Kenny Golladay who hauled in two touchdown passes in his debut in Sunday’s win over the Cardinals.

“Kenny has shown he’s a dangerous player, he’s a game-breaker kind of guy, glad to have him on our team,’’ Tate said. “It makes the opposing team put some more time in scouting him and covering him.

“To me you have to pick your poison — who you going to double-cover? Me? Marv (Jones)? Theo (Riddick)? Golladay? Ameer (Abdullah)? (Eric) Ebron? (Darren) Fells? Pick your poison. We’re excited about it,’’ Tate added.

The Lions lost at the Giants, 17-6, last Dec. 18. In that game, Matthew Stafford was hampered with a wonky finger and Golladay was still playing at Northern Illinois.

Here is Tate’s breakdown of the Giants’ secondary:

— “Eli (Apple) is a young guy who’s made a bunch of plays and still learning the game. The best is yet to come for him.”

— Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: “A savvy guy, fast guy, ballhawk that can make some plays.”

— “Janoris Jenkins, been going against him for a long time when he was in the NFC West. He’s a very talented guy, a  ballhawk as well, physical guy, loves contact, going to talk some smack to you.”

— “Landon (Collins) all pro guy, he knows his assignments, savvy guy, he’s in the right place at the right time, makes plays.’’

“It’s going to be a great challenge for us, but I love our guys against their guys,’’ Tate said.

In the opening win, Stafford passed for 292 yards and four touchdowns. Seven Lions caught at least two passes. Tate was tops with 10 receptions for 107 yards.

Of course, Tate is not alone in his respect for the Giants’ secondary.

“It’s a pretty strong group, and there’s no doubt about it between the three corners and the safety. I mean it’s hard to think there’s any team that has any more than they have. They have talented guys,’’ Lions coach Jim Caldwell said.

Stafford knows he will have his work cut out for him especially after the results from last season’s game.

“They got a ton of talent. I mean you look around, they’ve got two extremely good edge rushers, a really good, if not the best, interior run presence guy in the league, an all-pro safety and two maybe three all-pro corners,’’ Stafford said.

Lions’ placekicker Matt Prater was forced into double duty on Sunday in the Lions’ 35-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He didn’t miss a beat.

Prater was named the NFC special teams player of the week on Wednesday. He also won the award last season in Weeks 9 and 12.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

When punter Kasey Redfern injured his knee early in the game, Prater then became the punter too which was a first in his career. He had four punts averaging 34.8 yards.

He kicked a 58-yard field goal — his only attempt of the day. It was the longest field goal in team history at home and tied for the second longest ever.

Prater joins Jason Hanson as the only Lions kickers since at least 1960 to register a punt and a 50-yard field goal in the same game. Hanson punted three times and made a 53-yard field goal at Tennessee on Sept. 23, 2012.

Prater’s 58-yard field goal was the 36th 50-plus yard field goal of his career. It is also the third he has made from at least 58 yards since joining the Lions in 2014.

Prater was also 2 of 2 on extra points.

Redfern is now out for the season. He had temporarily replaced Sam Martin, one of the NFL’s best punters, who is out with a non-football related injury.

Punter Jeff Locke was signed by the Lions on Tuesday.

The job description for an NFL defensive end does not include the word “fun.”

But that is exactly the word Anthony Zettel used to describe his first start at the position in the Detroit Lions 35-23 win on Sunday.

Zettel was the only one to sack Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer. The pressure created by Zettel and his linemates played a part in the three interceptions thrown by Palmer.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

“There was some pressure. It doesn’t mean you get a bevy of sacks all the time, but if you can put enough pressure to create and muddy to pocket a little bit, I think we did muddy the pocket some,’’ coach Jim Caldwell said.

“I feel like I played well but I’ve got a lot to improve on. … I was playing as hard as I could, the rest takes care of itself. I’m looking forward to next week to get back on the field with those guys because that was the funnest I’ve ever had on the field with someone,’’ Zettel said on Monday.

Zettel, a sixth-round pick out of Penn State in 2016, played in 13 games as a rookie with his first career sack in Week 15.

He had a good training camp. And while there was plenty of hand-wringing about the depth on the defensive line, he and the others just kept working. They’ll get more help after the suspensions of Armonty Bryant (three more games) and Khyri Thornton (five more games).

The next test comes on Monday night at the New York Giants.

“I play this game to earn respect from the guys across from me. I just want the guy on the Giants who plays across from me just to know he played me that game and I did get on him,’’ Zettel said. “That’s the only thing I play this game for is that and the love of team and the work and sweat we put in together is the biggest thing that’s why I play this game.’’

The line is also without Kerry Hyder, the 2016 sack leader, who tore his Achilles in the first preseason game. The numbers may be down but the spirits are high.

“We have a really tough group this year. Everybody is on the same page and we really want to play as hard as we can for each other,’’ Zettel said. “That’s when you have a good team when everybody cares about the other guys and they’ll do anything they can to win the game.’’

Zettel said they practiced well all last week, getting after the scout team.

“So we had high expectations coming into this game, I think it all starts with practice and it translated really well over to the game,’’ Zettel said.

While he was certainly pleased with many things about the win, he was thinking about the next challenge.

He liked the energy the defense brought to the field.

The line can’t be judged on just one sack.

“We don’t talk numbers but we want to be the best in the NFL,’’ Zettel said. “I think if any team doesn’t try to be the best they’re cheating themselves.’’