Matt Prater named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month

Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September, the NFL announced Wednesday. It’s a first for the third-year player and the first time a Bronco has won the award since punter Todd Sauerbrun drove drunk with it won it in October 2005.

Prater’s nod came after he posted AFC bests in touchbacks (7), touchback percentage (46.7) and kickoffs reaching the end zone (13). He went 7-of-9 in field-goal attempts but nailed all three attempts from beyond 40 yards.

In other words, Prater kick ball far. Very far. Combined with good special teams coverage, the Broncos lead the AFC and rank second in the NFL in average opponent drive start after kickoffs (20.6-yard line).

I have to admit I was pretty surprised when I read this, but the positives (touchbacks, 100% beyond 40 yards) obviously outweigh the negatives (two missed FGs). Congrats, Prate. Press release after the jump.

BRONCOS K MATT PRATER TO BE NAMED AFC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE MONTH

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater will be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September, the National Football League informed the Broncos on Wednesday.

Prater’s selection as AFC Special Teams Player of the Month is the first such award of his three-year NFL career. It marks the first time in four seasons that a Bronco has won the award (P Todd Sauerbrun, October 2005) and only the fourth time a Denver player has received the nomination since it was initiated by the NFL in 1993.

Prater helped the Broncos to a 3-0 record and a first-place standing in the AFC West in September by converting 7-of-9 field-goal attempts, including all three tries from beyond 40 yards. He posted AFC bests in touchbacks (7), touchback percentage (46.7) and kickoffs reaching the end zone (13) to help Denver lead the conference in lowest opponent average starting position after kickoffs (20.6-yd. line) for the month.

A former standout at the University of Central Florida, Prater finished the month with the third-most points (26) in the AFC among kickers (4th most among all players). He improved to 6-of-7 for his career on 50-yard field-goal attempts with a 50-yarder in the season opener at Cincinnati (9/13) and made all three field-goal attempts, including a 48-yarder, last week at Oakland (9/27).