After a season in which the Detroit Lions returned to the playoffs, wide receiver Golden Tate says it's time for his team to become a consistent winner and begin to shake its "same old Lions" stigma, starting with the 2015 season.
"I think it's time for us to consistently, year in and year out, win ballgames," Tate told the Detroit Free Press in a telephone interview Tuesday. "I think we have the personnel. I think we have the coach, the coaching staff. I think we have a heck of a fan base."
Tate, who led the Lions last year with 1,331 receiving yards and 99 receptions in his first season with the team, said the Lions' goals go beyond just winning ballgames.
"It's time. We're trying to shake 'the same old Lions.' We're trying to become -- I thought we were good -- I think we're trying to become elite now. I think we're trying to compete with the Packers and give them a run for their money and take over our division year in and year out," he told the newspaper.
Becoming consistent winners would be no small feat for the Lions, as the franchise has made the playoffs just twice since 2000 (2014, 2011) and has posted a winning record just three times during that span (11-5 in '14, 10-6 in '11 and 9-7 in '00).
Although the Lions lost Ndamukong Suh in free agency, they still possess a potent offensive attack led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and receivers Calvin Johnson and Tate. Detroit moved to fill Suh's void by trading for Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata at the start of free agency.