Cardinals Kicker Matt Prater Wins NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater knocked home a 62-yard field goal in part of a huge effort to upset the Dallas Cowboys.

Joe Rondone/The Republic

Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater went 3-3 on field goals in the team's 28-16 upset over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, which included a 62-yarder.

"It starts with leg strength because you're not going to attempt anything you don't have a chance," Cardinals Special Teams Coach Jeff Rodgers said. 

"But he's accurate from distance. It gives a head coach confidence something we should entertain. It gives Matt confidence it is something he is capable of, and the guys blocking for him, it gives them confidence if we do our job he'll do his."

For that effort, he was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

More from the team's official press release:

• "This is Prater’s third selection as Special Teams Player of the Week with the Cardinals after previously winning the award twice in 2021, including following Arizona’s Week 17 win over the Cowboys that season. With his third selection, Prater is now tied for the most Special Teams Player of the Week selections by a kicker in team history (Chandler Catanzaro, Chris Jacke, Bill Gramatica)."

• "It is also Prater’s 15th career Special Teams Player of the Week selection. Among all kickers in NFL history, only Adam Vinatieri (19) has claimed the honor more."

• "Prater connected on all four of his kicks (3 FGs, 1 PAT) in Sunday’s win, finishing with 10 points. He ended the first half of Sunday’s game with a 62-yard field goal, tying his own record for the longest field goal in franchise history. Prater’s 62-yarder is the longest field goal in the NFL this season."

• "The NFL’s active leading scorer, Prater surpassed 1,700 points for his career and also passed Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud (1,699) for 19th place on the NFL’s all-time scoring list during Sunday’s game."

• "Prater’s 62-yarder marked his 73rd career field goal of 50+ yards, extending his NFL record. He has 15 more field goals of 50+ yards than the players tied for second on the list."

• "There have been just 15 made field goals of at least 62 yards in NFL history. Prater - who owns the second-longest FG in NFL history (64 yards) - has three of them. He joins Brett Maher (3) as the only kickers in league history with multiple FGs of 62 yards or longer."

The Cardinals play the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4.