They are often the forgotten men, taken for granted and the butt of jokes.
But when they’re needed, it’s often in a game-on-the-line situation.
Such is the life of NFL placekickers.
The Broncos can be thankful that they have Matt Prater, one of the best clutch kickers in the business. A lot of different people are sharing in the credit for the Broncos’ midseason resurgence, but Prater often gets overlooked.
It’s a shame, too. Consider some of his contributions during the Broncos’ last eight games:
–Game-winning 52-yard field goal in overtime in an 18-15 win over Miami
–3-for-3 in field goal tries, including a 37-yarder in overtime, in a 16-13 win at San Diego.
–Two critical field goals in the 35-32 win over the Vikings…one from 46 yards to tie the game at 32 with 1:33 remaining and the other a 23-yarder with no time left to win the game.
–Two huge kicks against the Bears last Sunday, a 59-yard boot with three seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 10, then a game-winning 51-yard field goal to win the game in overtime.
His efforts against the Bears earned him the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award. Despite a bit of a midseason slump, Prater still has a knack for coming up big when the moment demands it.
“I don’t want to talk about it because I don’t want to jinx myself,” Prater told 850KOA after the win over the Bears. “But I’m confident I should be making them all throughout the game. Hopefully I’ll get the numbers up in the other three quarters.”
Great players cause people to take their performances for granted. Prater has a way of doing that for Broncos players and fans alike.
“Obviously that was a great clutch kick, both of them,” Head Coach John Fox said on the 850KOA post-game show. “We have great confidence in him from any range.”
And well they should.
Prater authored his latest round of heroics after the Bears tried to ice him with a timeout.
Not a problem whatsoever.
“It doesn’t bother me,” Prater said. “I was ready to kick it either way. If they ice me or not, it doesn’t matter.”
So feel free to offer the Mile High Salute to Tim Tebow, the defense and the Broncos’ hero of the week. They all deserve it.
But so does the kicker who quietly goes about his business. More often than not, he has made the improbable merely routine.
The Patriots are up next. Can the Broncos extend their winning streak to seven games?
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Mike
Tags: Matt Prater, Mike Rice
Great article Mike. We have the best kickers in the business, and I wish them continued success. I especially liked last weekends 2 kicks where all of the analysts kept saying that either of those kicks could have been for 65 or 70 yds. easily.
Happy for prater … every year I lobby for him to go to the pro bowl and once asked what the touchback record was cuz I thought he broke it (last year I believe) … we did however come to the conclusion that some guy way back in the day had way more … also came to the conclusion that that was back when it was 5 yards closer … now its 5 yards closer again … interesting … lets see if theres a new Touchback record … I doubt we will have it because we dont score enough to get the chance to kick alot lol. He had a bit of a slump but he is showing up and im excited. Even in the Miami game I believe he missed one or 2 FGs earlier that game but came through in the clutch, whole team is clutch … when it matters. I find that its due to their comraderie and their desire to not fail their team mates and friends that they believe in and that believe in them. Tight knit group all on the Tebow believe train. Keep beleiving guys. Keep believing. As long as you always believe you are in the game and anything can happen … the game is never lost until the clock reads 0:00 … Fight till the last breath. Go Broncos. TRB
Hell Yeah!! And if the Pat-riots (as in laugh riot) beat us this time , let them have it. We’ll take our victory against them in the play-offs.
Am I correct in thinking Brady’s worst record against any team is vs. the Broncos. Hope the curse continues.
Before this year is over … Prater must reclaim the longest FG kick from the raiders Janikowski … and seeing as how we will be finishing the year off with alot of home game s… its possible. To have Elams record owned by a raider disgusts me lmao. We must take it back … and we might have … if the offense hustled before half time agaisnt the bears to get a shot at a long FG. TRB
Prater will set a new record for the longest FG in NFL history before his career is over….I’d say at least 65 yards!!!
TRB beat me to it,lol.
I think Prater earned himself the “double clutch” moniker.
Matt ‘Money’ Prater…
Glad to have you in Bronco Country!!!
You guys gotta love this… Tebow does the Elway ‘Pat’… Watch the game film from Chicago, compared to the game film from Miami, and try to tell me you don’t see distinct similarities in Tebow’s footwork, the way he holds the ball before a throw, and ‘the Pat’…
I think it is GREAT!!!
)
Repost:
WE might have to worry about Hernandez more … because Gronk is the better blocker and that pass rush will be coming. If that happens … Gronk will be neutralized> Should truly be a great game.
TRB
I was disappointed in some of the misses earlier in the season on kicks that I thought should’ve been an easy 3 points. But it seems as though he’s put that in the past and has been money ever since.
Making the big kicks in clutch situations is all we can ask for…..and he’s come through in spades. Our kicking tandem of Prater and Colquitt is one of the league’s best IMO.
Like I’ve said in the past sometimes as a placekicker you just have to kick your way out of a slump. Prater is coming up HUGE in the clutch for us.
New Blogs…
Matt Prater is the man! Britton Colquitt too…
Loved your post TRB. Yours as well Mr. Rice. I believe we will come out victorious against NE.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!
The folks at Mile High should have signs that say PRATER-TOR!! After those shots he’s been hitting teams with, he is a BEAST. I think he could kick the moon into orbit around Mars! Sea Bass will hold on to the record this year cause I think we are too good a team to try a 63 yarder. GO BRONCOS BEAT THE PATS !!!
BRONCOS 34
PATS 27
TRB He(Sea Bass) only has Tied the record with Elam and Dempsey.
HE DON’T OWN IT SO REST EASY TRB