Matt Prater Wins Special Teams Award

Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater will be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for games played during the fifth week (Oct. 5-6) of the 2008 season, the National Football League informed the Broncos on Tuesday.

Prater's selection as AFC Special Teams Player of the Week marks the first such award of his two-year NFL career.

During the Broncos' 16-13 win against Tampa Bay on Sunday, Prater made all three field goal attempts (55, 40, 27 yds.) and his lone extra point try for 10 points while recording touchbacks on four-of-five kickoffs. His 55-yarder in the second quarter was the longest field goal in the NFL for Week 5 and tied for the fifth-longest field goal in Broncos history.

Prater's four touchbacks against the Buccaneers led the NFL for the week, and he averaged 69.4 yards on his five kickoffs. He also accounted for the highest percentage of his team's points (62.5 / 10-of-16) among special teamers in the AFC for the week.

A former standout at the University of Central Florida, Prater has made 12-of-13 (92.3%) field goal attempts and all 15 extra point tries for an NFL-best 51 points this season. His four 50+yard field goals (on four attempts) lead the NFL and are one shy of tying Denver's single-season franchise record.

He also is tied for the NFL lead with 11 touchbacks on kickoffs this season.

Prater is the first Bronco to be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week since punt returner Glenn Martinez earned that award in Week 11 (vs. Tennessee) of the 2007 season. His selection marks the 18th time a Broncos player has received AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors since the award was initiated by the NFL in 1993.