Broncos Kicker Matt Prater Named AFC Special Teams Player Of The Month

by John Bena on Jan 5, 2012 8:36 AM MST in Denver Broncos in the News

Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater will be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, the National Football League informed the Broncos on Thursday.

Prater converted on 6-of-7 field goals in five games during the final month of the season (Dec./Jan.), including both of his attempts from 50+ yards. He also made all four of his attempts in the fourth quarter or overtime to bring his career conversion rate to 28-of-29 in those circumstances.

In consecutive games (at Min., 12/4 and vs. Chi., 12/11), he made a game-tying field goal with less than two minutes remaining before kicking a walk-off game winner. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance against the Bears in which he booted a 59-yard field goal with 0:03 remaining to send the game to overtime, where he connected on a 51-yarder for the 13-10 Broncos win.

This is the second time in his career Prater has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month (September 2009), and his accomplishment marks the first Player of the Month honor for a Bronco since wide receiver Eddie Royal was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in October of 2009.

For the season, Prater made 19-of-25 (.760) field goals in addition to leading the NFL in touchback percentage (70.1 / 47-of-67). The fifth-year player also kicked four game-winning field goals on the last play of the game to tie for the second most in a single season in NFL history.

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Congratulations Matt Prater.

John Fox and John Elway would like to thank you.
Tim Tebow would like to thank you.
The fans would like to thank you.
Keep up the good work and best of luck to you and the team this Sunday. And stay out of the strip clubs.

Victory is sweet, even deep in the cheap seats.

by KoloradoKaos on Jan 5, 2012 8:57 AM MST reply actions

So I'm wondering...

why don’t you let the NFL Special Teams Player of the Month attempt the field goal at home against the Chiefs. That puts you within one point at the end and then the Broncos don’t have to drive 85 yards in a few seconds on their last possession of the game. All they have to do is get to maybe the KC 40 with a chance to pull off another “miracle comeback.” I know the problems with what-ifs. I understand that hindsight can be 20/20. And I understand the percentages in caution, but sometimes caution isn’t the right choice. I remember thinking, when the Broncos declined the attempt, “They’re playing not to lose and that can’t be good.” What kind of message does that send to your team?

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Jan 5, 2012 9:28 AM MST reply actions 1 recs

+ 1. The situational percentages said go for it.

Percentages said go for it. Prater should score those on over 50% of his attempts, especially at MIle High. So that’s 7-3 at half time, with a small percentage chance admitedly that KC run back the KO for a TD, but that is marginal especially considering Prater’s touchback percentage (again amplified at Mile High).

Even if Prater misses the KC offence was hardly playing lights out offence – yes they get good field position, but they still have to go at least 20 or so yards and Ryan Succop is hardly a gimme from distance.

Yes 10-0 at half time sucks, but so does 7-0 down and at least you had a better than even chance of making that 7-3 not 10-0.

Fox played too conservatively and he had better not do that again in the playoffs

What would Blackie Lawless do? Well he'd probably wait till after the playoffs are over before speculating as to what happens in the offseason....

by British Bronco on Jan 5, 2012 9:55 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Well deserved for Prater. He has stepped in

when we were asking ourselves “who in the world could possibly replace Elam?” He does seem to have Elam’s pedigree when it comes to making clutch kicks…just wish we’ve had more of them for him to make! It’s nice to know Kicker (or punter) does not need to be addressed anytime soon.

"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."

by rubincarterrocks on Jan 5, 2012 9:49 AM MST reply actions