Broncos’ Prater Wins Special Teams Award

The Denver Broncos were informed on Wednesday that kicker Matt Prater will be named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.  Prater won the award after going 3-for-3 on field goal attempts in the Broncos’ 37-6 thumping of the Oakland Raiders last week.

Full press release after the jump.  

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

Prater connected on all three field goal attempts (21, 43, 53) and all four extra point tries in Denver’s 37-6 win against Oakland on Sunday in addition to producing touchbacks on all eight kickoffs.

His eight touchbacks against Oakland represent the second most in the NFL in a single game since at least 1994, and he is the only player during that span with a perfect touchback percentage on eight kickoffs or more.

Prater’s 53-yard field goal in the fourth quarter increased his career percentage from 50+ yards to 77.8% (14-of-18)—improving on his NFL record among kickers who started their career after the 1970 league merger.

He added to another NFL record he currently possesses by converting 2-of-2 field goals in the final quarter against the Raiders to improve his career percentage in the fourth quarter to 96.4% (27-of-28).

Through four games in 2012, Prater has made 7-of-7 field goals and 11-of-11 extra point attempts while delivering touchbacks on 20-of-24 kickoffs.

This marks the fourth time in Prater’s career he has received the honor, as he also earned conference player of the week accolades in 2008 (Week 5), 2009 (Week 12) and 2011 (Week 14). Overall, the award represents the 22nd AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor by a Broncos player since the award was initiated by the NFL in 1993.