Lions notes: Matt Prater named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for third time in four games

• Matt Prater was again awarded the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award after going 5-for-5 in field goals against the Saints last week. Prater has now won the weekly honors in three of his past four games with the Detroit Lions.

• Another Lions special teamer earned some honors on Wednesday:

The Walter Payton Man of the Year award goes to the player that displays excellence on and off the field. The Detroit News has a nice recap of all of Carey’s charitable endeavors off the field.

• Speaking of charity, on Tuesday Lions players helped a group of foster children go Christmas shopping:

• Joique Bell sounds happy to be back in Detroit:

• Justin Rogers has a nice breakdown of how the Lions defense was able to completely shut down Drew Brees.

• ESPN analysts joined together to cast their MVP ballots. Matthew Stafford is currently fourth, behind Derek Carr, Tom Brady and Ezekiel Elliott.

• Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul had surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. The Lions face the Giants in Week 15.

• Here is your officiating crew for Lions-Bears: