41-year-old Matt Prater serves as an unlikely hero for the Bills
Photo Credit: Ben Green/Buffalo Bills
Kicker Matt Prater arrived in Orchard Park, New York, on Friday after taking a red-eye flight from Arizona. 48 hours later, he would serve as the Bills’ hero in one of the greatest regular-season games in recent memory.
“Yeah, it was crazy,” said Matt Prater. “Took a red-eye. Came, practiced … Honestly, I saw a really good practice. Saw a really good team and was really excited.”
The Bills signed Prater to the practice squad on Thursday and, a day later, placed kicker Tyler Bass on injured reserve with a pelvic injury. Prater, a free agent before signing with the Bills, is an 18-year veteran with two Pro Bowl appearances to his name. The 41-year-old spent his last four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, but an injury saw him kick in just four games last season. Prior to his arrival in the desert, Prater played seven seasons with the Denver Broncos, seven with the Detroit Lions, and one with the Atlanta Falcons.
While the circumstances were a little different on Sunday night, Prater has plenty of experience kicking in any and all situations and environments. After Sunday’s game, Prater has made 410 field goals and 589 extra points. He holds the NFL record for most field-goal makes (81) from 50 yards or more.
The Bills elevated the veteran kicker to the 53-man roster for Week 1 on Saturday, and when he kicked the extra point following a Bills opening-drive touchdown, he became the oldest player to suit up in franchise history.
“I’m not gonna take a shot at his age, but he walks into the special teams meeting and then I’m like, ‘Oh, we got a new coach,’” said offensive lineman Spencer Brown after the game. “And then like, ‘That’s Matt Prater. Holy cow, this guy has been balling in the league.'”
Prater would have a big role to play as the Bills hosted the Ravens on “Sunday Night Football.” The two perennial Super Bowl contenders played a back-and-forth affair that saw 81 total points scored, 11 from the right leg of Prater.
After making his first extra point of the night on the opening drive, Prater connected on a 25-yard field goal with under three minutes left in the first half. The Ravens quickly answered with three points of their own with just over 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter. However, quarterback Josh Allen drove the Bills down the field in 31 seconds, allowing Prater to nail a 43-yard field goal with no time left on the clock.
With the Bills trailing for most of the second half, Prater didn’t see much action aside from kickoffs. Head coach Sean McDermott decided to attempt three two-point conversions in the final 30 minutes to help his team claw back into the game. Despite having one of the best rushing quarterbacks in the league, the Bills were unsuccessful on all three attempts. Prater did make his only other extra point with under four minutes left in the game, pulling his new team within eight points.
A fumble, a touchdown, and a strong defensive stop got the Bills within two as they started their final drive from their own 20-yard line. Once again, Allen quickly drove his offense down the field, setting up Prater for a game-winning field-goal attempt.
Despite not knowing most of his teammates’ names and suffering from a lack of sleep, Prater couldn’t have been put in a more comfortable situation to end the game. Prater makes a living in clutch situations. Before Sunday’s game, the 41-year-old was 23-of-24 on field-goal attempts in the final two minutes of regulation and overtime.
With no timeouts left, the Bills had to rush the offense off the field and simultaneously rush the special teams unit on the field. The transition was smooth, giving Prater plenty of time to line up his kick and lace it through the uprights. Prater had just enough height on his kick, avoiding the outstretched arms of Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, who was inches away from blocking the game-winning field goal.
Prater’s new teammates lifted him up on their shoulders in celebration to honor the 41-year-old’s heroics. Prater’s 11 points helped the Bills complete a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback against the Ravens. The Bills outscored the Ravens 22-7 in the fourth quarter, including 16 unanswered points to win the game 41-40.
“I’m still on Cloud Nine,” Prater said.
“He’s a true pro,” said Bills head coach Sean McDermott after the win. “Awesome to execute at that level with the game on the line.”
Even with the reigning MVP, Allen, playing at an all-time level and leading a miraculous comeback, McDermott gave the game ball to Prater. He received a loud reception from his teammates and coaches in the locker room after the game.
Prater’s journey with the Bills doesn’t stop here. As he enters his 19th season, Prater could play at least three more games with the Bills. With Bass being placed on Injured Reserve, he is required to miss the first four games of the season. If Prater’s next few performances are anything like Sunday night’s, he will have a home until Bass returns.
“Shoot, I’m thankful for keeping you old ass with the Bills, man,” said offensive lineman Dion Dawkins. “I’m thankful for him. I’m glad that somebody could come in on Thursday and help us big (because) every piece matters, he came in, understood the assignment, we got the job done.”
