Matt Prater, 41, boots game-winning field goal for Bills after signing two days earlier
Signed to Buffalo’s practice squad after Tyler Bass was placed on injured reserve, veteran kicker drilled a 32-yard kick as time expired in a 41-40 win over the Ravens
Matt Prater, signed to the Buffalo Bills two days earlier, kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bills to a 41-40 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.
Prater, 41, was 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and made both extra points for a perfect five-for-five kicking night, finishing a comeback from a 40-25 fourth-quarter deficit. He had been signed to Buffalo’s practice squad on Friday after veteran starter Tyler Bass was placed on injured reserve with a pelvic injury.
"Took a red-eye. Came, practiced," Prater said of joining the team on short notice. "Honestly, I saw a really good practice. Saw a really good team and was really excited." Bills coach Sean McDermott praised Prater after the win, calling him "a true pro" and saying it was "awesome to execute at that level with the game on the line."
Teammates celebrated the veteran’s smooth transition. Offensive lineman Spencer Brown said Prater arrived with an authoritative presence in meetings: "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.'" Offensive lineman Dion Dawkins, joking about Prater’s age, said the team was grateful for the contribution and that "every piece matters." The Bills mobbed Prater in Orchard Park after the kick.
Prater entered the league in 2007 with the Atlanta Falcons and has had long tenures with Denver, Detroit and Arizona. He earned Pro Bowl selections in 2013 and 2016 while with the Broncos and has made more than 450 career field goals. Prater said he spent part of his offseason coaching youth football.
Buffalo had to move quickly after placing Bass on injured reserve Thursday; the move means Bass will miss at least the first four games of the regular season under current NFL IR rules. Prater was signed to the practice squad on Friday and elevated to the active roster for Sunday’s game. Given his instant impact, Prater is expected to handle kicking duties while Bass remains sidelined.
Fans and social media users expressed surprise and amusement at the sequence of events: Prater was unaffiliated with an NFL team days earlier and then became the decisive player in a high-profile national broadcast. Some posts joked about his appearance and age, while others noted that kickers have played into their 40s before, citing names such as Morten Andersen and Adam Vinatieri.
Buffalo’s comeback included a 15-point swing in the fourth quarter to erase a 40-25 deficit. The victory gives the Bills an early-season win as they prepare to host the New York Jets in Week 2. The Ravens, who fell to the Bills, will return home to face the Cleveland Browns next week.
Prater, who said after the game he was "still on Cloud Nine," added a veteran presence and immediate production in a moment of need for Buffalo. McDermott and teammates indicated confidence in Prater’s preparation and performance, at least for the short term while Bass recovers.