Lions kicker/quarterback Matt Prater named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Matt Prater didn’t have to line up for any important kicks on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. He didn’t have to kick the game-winning kick, in fact, he only kicked one field goal the entire afternoon.

But because of his touchdown pass to tight end Levine Toilolo, it was enough for Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater to earn NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the final week of 2018.

This is the 10th time Prater has won the weekly award and the fifth time he has as a Detroit Lion. The last time Prater was given Special Teams Player of the Week honors was in Week 1 of the 2017 season, when he was forced to take over kicking and punting duties following an injury to Kasey Redfern in the first quarter.

“Basically I was trying not to screw it up,” Prater said of Sunday’s trick play. “Coaches saw something early in the week and we executed it. Somehow we hid the 6-foot-8-tall guy on the side. We snapped it perfect, I almost dropped it, threw it up a little too high, but Levine made a good catch. It worked out, so it was fun.”

Quarterback Matthew Stafford saw it similarly.

On the day, Prater also nailed a 43-yard field goal and was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra points.