DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions have won four games this season, and three of those victories came via the foot of Matt Prater.
The veteran kicker has been shaky at times this year, but he...
There was a time when NFL coaches only trusted their placekickers if all other options were exhausted.
From there, things progressed to relying on the soccer-style booters from, say, 50...
DETROIT (AP) — Alex Smith took another big step in his personal comeback.
His team, on the other hand, fell just short again after another late rally.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions leaned on their dynamic duo for comebacks and they came through again.
Matthew Stafford directed the final drive with just 16 seconds left to set up Matt...
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Matthew Stafford had the ball and Matt Prater knew it was time to start kicking.
Good call.
Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley gave one of the NFL's best...
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — It was the kind of moment that had stymied the Detroit Lions so many times during their 11-game losing streak: A potential game-winning play, a gut-punch penalty that...
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tom Dempsey, the kicker born without toes on his kicking foot who made a then-record 63-yard field goal, died late Saturday while struggling with complications from the new...
DENVER (AP) — Brandon McManus looked up and saw the bright orange streamers atop the goal posts hugging the yellow uprights in the north end zone. Perfect, he thought. No wind. Thirty degrees. One...
The Latest on Week 7 in the NFL (all times EDT):
10:15 p.m.
Brett Maher of the Dallas Cowboys has added to his record as the only kicker in NFL history with multiple field goals of at...
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions had a chance to build a big lead in the first half.
They had a chance to put it away in the second half.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jamal Agnew quickly made up for two fumbles and the defense stepped up for Detroit when special teams almost blew it.
Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown pass to Marvin...
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Matt Patricia came to Detroit with a defensive background, so it will be no surprise if the Lions keep playing tight, low-scoring games.
DETROIT (AP) — Matthew Stafford and Darius Slay had a lot to do with the Los Angeles Chargers leading the Lions for three-plus quarters.
And, both players bounced back in the final minutes...
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater lined up for a field goal but seemed a little antsy, gesturing with his arms like a quarterback calling for a shotgun snap.
It turns out that was exactly what it was.
Prater's 8-yard pass on a fake field-goal try was a high and a little wobbly, but Levine Toilolo was so wide open in the end zone that it didn't matter.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have earned the right to keep their hopes of making the playoffs for at least another week.
Perhaps fittingly, they did it by making enough plays late in a game to win.
Detroit ended its second losing streak of two or more games this season, going 49 yards to set up Matt Prater's 46-yard field goal to beat Tampa Bay 24-21 Sunday.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — With the clock running down in a tie game, the Detroit Lions didn't have any qualms about the ball being in Matthew Stafford's injured throwing hand.
They've come to expect their quarterback to find a way to lead them to victory in those situations, and Stafford didn't disappoint Sunday, when he threw for 381 yards and set up Matt Prater for a 46-yard field goal in the closing seconds to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-21.
CHICAGO (AP) — The Detroit Lions haven't lost a game against the NFC North, and they can really tighten the division race if they win this week.
Matt Prater kicked a tiebreaking 52-yard field goal, Matthew Stafford threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns and the Lions hung on to beat the Chicago Bears 27-24 on Sunday.
CHICAGO (AP) — Matt Prater booted the go-ahead field goal through the gusting wind right down the middle with enough room to clear the crossbar.
He also gained some revenge against a coach who cut him.
Prater kicked a 52-yard field goal with 1:35 remaining, Matthew Stafford threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns and the Detroit Lions held on to beat the Chicago Bears 27-24 on Sunday.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Matt Prater needed a new NFL team and a place to call home three years ago.
The standout kicker got both in Detroit.
The Lions gave Prater a second chance after the Denver Broncos cut ties with him and have been satisfied enough to keep him under contract through the 2020 season.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have signed punter Jeff Locke after Kasey Redfern went down with a knee injury in the season opener.
The Lions announced Tuesday they were putting Redfern and offensive tackle Corey Robinson on injured reserve. Robinson has a foot injury.
Detroit also signed offensive tackle Emmett Cleary.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions have gone down to the wire in every game this season, so their kicker has been even more important than usual.
Matt Prater has come through when they've needed him.
DETROIT (AP) — Matthew Stafford led another crucial drive late in the fourth quarter, and Matt Prater's kicking again helped Detroit to a tight victory over Minnesota.
For the second time this month, the Lions edged the Vikings. This time, they didn't need overtime.
DETROIT (AP) — Darius Slay dropped into coverage as if he was going to cover a deep route and pounced on an opportunity to help the Lions come back to win another game.
Slay intercepted Sam Bradford's pass from the left hash across the field to help send the Lions into sole possession of first place in the NFC North.
The idea was to put some excitement into NFL extra points. On Sunday, it became unwise to head to the fridge when the kickers came in.
A dozen times in Week 11, those 1-pointers became no-pointers. Blame the swirling winds. Blame the suspect blocking. Blame sloppy holding.
The Latest on the 11th Sunday of the NFL season. (all times Eastern):
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11:30 p.m.
So now it's a dirty dozen.
A record 12th failed extra-point attempt Sunday came at night, when Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins put one off the right upright in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers.
There had never before been more than 10 blown PATs in a single NFL week during the Super Bowl era until this one day of pulls, hooks and blocks.
NFL kickers missed like never before Sunday, setting a record with 12 failed extra point attempts.
Kickers missed left, right, had kicks blocked and hit the uprights. Kickers missed in the wind and indoors. It's the most misses in one week since the NFL merger.
DETROIT (AP) — By Detroit's standards, this was a comfortable, drama-free victory.
The Lions beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 26-19 on Sunday , extending a streak in which every Detroit game this season has been decided by seven points or fewer. But the Lions needed no last-ditch passes from Matthew Stafford or long kicks from Matt Prater in this one.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions leaned on their defense and special teams to score while the potentially potent offense sputtered for three quarters.
Detroit's offense finally got going in the fourth, pulling ahead on Eric Ebron's 1-yard touchdown run early in the quarter and padding the lead with Matt Prater's 43-yard field goal with 22 seconds left in a 26-19 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For most kickers, a game-tying, 58-yard field goal as time expires would qualify as the highlight of their careers.
For Matt Prater, it just barely made the top five on his list.
Prater's big leg got the Detroit Lions to overtime against the Minnesota Vikings and Matthew Stafford's big arm took over from there in a 22-16 victory on Sunday.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Matthew Stafford says he would like to avoid being down late in the fourth quarter at all costs.
The Detroit Lions quarterback sure looks comfortable in those situations this season. Maybe because he has had plenty of practice.
Stafford threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate, who vaulted into the end zone in overtime to give the Lions a 22-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
HOUSTON (AP) — The Detroit Lions made a habit recently of rallying late for wins.
On Sunday their latest comeback attempt fell just short in a 20-13 loss to the Houston Texans (5-3).
The Lions (4-4) cut the lead to seven when Theo Riddick connected with Matthew Stafford on a 1-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions are starting to turn around their season, finding ways to make enough plays on both sides of the ball in the final minutes to win.
Matt Prater made a tiebreaking, 34-yard field goal with 1:29 left and Rafael Bush followed with a victory-sealing interception two plays later, giving Detroit a 31-28 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.