Entering the Broncos’ Week 13 matchup with the Chiefs, Matt Prater has already earned a slew of 2009 accomplishments.
His seven field goals and seven touchbacks in September led to his first AFC Special Teams Player of the Month honor. His four field goals and five touchbacks in the 26-6 Thanksgiving victory over the Giants led to an AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award.
With a hostile road environment on the horizon this weekend in Kansas City, Prater is less focused on past praise and more geared toward a strong finish.
“So far it has been good, but we still have at least five more weeks,” Prater said. “I don’t even like knowing about it until after the season, because you always (think) about your next game which is the most important. Kansas City this week and try to have a good game this week.”
The last time Prater graced the Arrowhead Stadium grass, his leg produced history. Prater nailed two 50-yard field goals against the Chiefs on Sept. 28, 2008, becoming the third Bronco in club history to accomplish that single-game feat.
While he’s only had two attempts of 50 yards or longer this season, Prater has prided himself on consistency. He’s 19-of-23 on field goals and 19-of-19 on extra points, thanks to a little bit of added difficulty in practice.
“I think one thing that has really helped is we have been kicking with a little skinnier than arena uprights in practice,” Prater said. “So then when I go out there for the games, I look at the uprights and they look a lot wider. Just a mental (edge) too.”
That mental edge has been aided by two veterans alongside him on every attempt. Lonie Paxton arrived in the offseason, bringing nine years of experience and three Super Bowl rings at long snapper. Mitch Berger arrived in Week 7, bringing 15 years of games and a Super Bowl ring himself at punter.
Since Berger took over the team’s holding duties, Prater has converted all seven of his field goal attempts. He was far from shy about what the 16-year veteran has added to the kicking equation.
“I’m super confident in him,” Prater said. “When I line up I don’t ever have to think about the hold, which (former Broncos punter) Brett (Kern) was good at too. But Mitch has been doing it so long. He kicked as well so he gives me little pointers here and there on kicking, too.”
A top story detailing more from Dove Valley, including the Week 13 Injury Report, will be posted on DenverBroncos.com later this evening. For now, here are some shots from the start of Wednesday’s practice.
– Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Kansas City Chiefs, Lonie Paxton, Matt Prater, Mitch Berger, Week 13
We look good in practice hopefully we will look better vs the Chiefs
this weeks game may not be as easy as everyone thinks but i think we get out with another win 27-10
I’ll wait for the IR.
The team look fine in pictures, training in hostile weather, which is probable for the game in KC. But what about those training days with a lot of noise and music to replicate hostile crowds? Are they still doing that? Because that’s what we’ll get in KC, for sure.
Go Broncooos!
I’ve found that Denver-Chief games are unpredictable, and therefore am “predicting” 28-10 KC (reverse psychology
)
backwards smiley face – got a double chin lol
does anyone know how Orton’s ankle is holding up? I’m kinda nervous about it, it wouldnt be good if he hurt it again
ortons ankle is all good. he said its all good.
denver has got this one hands down. man champ needs another interseption for six to live up to my name. lol
I guess we are all thankful to have Prater over the now unemployed Elam, huh? Foresight can be a virtue, sometimes.
The Chiefs are never easy for Denver. Denver needs to run the ball. Run, run, run and run some more.
Marsh15, Ortons ankle is a-okay.
what about moreno and his hand? anyone got a clue there?
What about the stupid pole that was put up on the home page? Is anyone talking about that? I mean, I know this thread is about this post, but does anyone really think that the Colts AREN’T going to be the hardest team that we face the rest of this regular season?
Anyway, very happy with the Giants game. I always love the word ‘dominate’ when it’s used immediately after the words ‘Denver Broncos.’ I really like our chances against KC this year. I am not really that worried. If Denver plays like we’ve seen them play for seven games this year, there is no question we should be heavily favored. Not saying it’ll be easy, though. Arrowhead is a tough place to play, especially for a divisional rival. Here’s to winning our last six games, just like we won our first six.
Yeah, to the response above about Prater and Elam. I almost feel bad for Elam. ALMOST… maybe just a little. I mean, he left us for what almost just seemed like more money. He played here how long? 15 years, or something like that? And he just leaves? Oh well, I’ll take Prater, he’s the one making the majority of his kicks.
No Broncos game in Utah this week, so I’ll have to watch online. Oh well, if we’re 8-4, to quote Brian Dawkins, it matters not. GO BRONCOS!!!
so top denver qbs i know of…
1.. elway
2..the one right before elway…?
3..jay cutler…even tho im glad hes gone
4..jake plummer..the mistake or snake???
5..brian griese
6..bubby brister baby!!! that guy was awesome…lol
thats all imember…ooohhh the first african american guy who startedd for us a looonnnggg time.
2. Is that Steve Deberg or Craig Morton? What about Gus Ferriot? He lead us to the playoffs in 2001
I don’t want us to think that this game will be a “for sure win.” Remember the struggling Redskins…we were “supposed” to win that one too. So I hope we don’t think that just because they’re struggling it will be an easy win, they did beat the Steelers.
Like many have said we need to run the ball. These past games that we’ve lost we haven’t been balanced and we’ve lost the turnover margin. Last weeks game we were quite balanced and we won the turnover margin +2. I second the motion that we continue to run the ball effectively. LOL!
Go Bronocos!!!!
Props to Prater, do wish that his praise came from PAT’s though.
Steve DeBerg was not a very good QB and Craig Morton had more career INT’s than TD’s. What about Rich Carlos, anyone remember the barefoot kicker? That was even before they had a “Kicking Ball”. Every time he kicked it I would cringe, that had to hurt!
The good ole days.
As far as the pole, I voted for @ KC because I think that the next game we play will be our toughest, week after week. We have beaten (4) teams that hold thier division lead so we can beat Indy in Indy. We did lose to the Skins so we could lose to the Chiefs.
I know, we fans can look ahead at the tough teams. But I won’t from now to the end of the season. I will focus my mind power on smashing the next opponent.
GO BRONCOS !!!
ya see i dnt remember gus ferrotte cuz i didn’t watch broncos then lol.
Gus was a one year wonder so you did not miss much.
Congratulations to Prater. This is well deserved after having his best game yet. I was glad to see him finally get all those touch backs! Yeah, I remember Rich Karlis (not Carlos – lol) too. How can anyone kick bare footed, especially in cold weather?
ya broncofanlvnm… it was karlis. i remember being a kid and we would pretend we were karlis and try to kick the ball as far as we could. never could do the bare foot thing tho. i also remember that afc championship game (at least i think it was an afc championship game) where he missed like 3 FG’s and we ended up losing by like 2 or something. i was pretty young then tho so the details are pretty fuzzy! lol
Go Broncos
“DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS”
I am just glad we have prater…he is a young kiker and he will be good if not great for a long time. i really miss elam tho lol.