Matt Prater named Special Teams Player of the Month

On Wednesday, the NFL announced that Eagles kicker Jake Elliott was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after nailing a 61-yard field goal as time expired. Matt Prater certainly made a case for himself to win the honors, going 4-for-4 against the Falcons with two of those field goal coming from 55 yards or longer. The Detroit Lions had already won the honors for the first two weeks of the season, so it would’ve been something to see them sweep the entire month.

Prater may have missed out on Week 3 honors, but on Thursday he was awarded Special Teams Player of the Month.

This had to be a pretty easy call for the NFL, as Prater has been literally perfect through three weeks. He’s even earned a little extra credit by filling in as the emergency punter and kickoff specialist for nearly an entire game.

Here’s a look at his accomplishment in just three games:

• 6-for-6 on field goals, 7-for-7 on extra points
• 4-for-4 from 50+ yards, no other kicker has more than two field goals made
• Made a 58-yarder, second longest in the NFL this season
• Has made four field goals from 55+ yards, an NFL record for one season
• NFL record seven straight makes from 55+ yards or longer
• Four punts for an average of 34.8 yards, one dropped inside the 20-yard line
• Booted four of five kickoffs into the endzone for touchdbacks

This is the fourth time Prater has won monthly honors and already his second as a Detroit Lion.

Now in his fourth season with Detroit, Prater has made 87 percent of his field goals since joining the team, including 16 of his past 17 from 50 yards or longer.