The Facts: On the verge of his first Pro Bowl appearance this weekend, Tate could be in for an even better 2015, HC Jim Caldwell said. "It doesn't take a whole year to determine what a guy can do from a schematic standpoint, but I do think that what happens is, guys get more comfortable within the system from quarterback to offensive line to running backs to all those involved, and you should see an uptick," Caldwell said Wednesday. "If we're not playing better than we played this year then obviously all of us are going to be disappointed about that. So I would anticipate in every phase that we're going to be able to improve."

Diehards Line: Tate caught 99 passes for 1,331 yards last year, and carried the Lions' offense for a long stretch in the first half of the season when Calvin Johnson was out with a high ankle sprain. When Johnson returned, Tate's production dipped over the final two months. He topped 50 yards receiving just once in four December games. Caldwell indicated that Tate's role probably won't change much going forward, but the Lions should be more balanced when Tate and Johnson, who pulled out of the Pro Bowl because of injury, are together on the field.