SPORTS

from The Glendale Star - 1.13.2022

by Times Media Group

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Prater named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater has been named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Jan. 2 25-22 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

This is Prater’s second Special Teams Player of the Week this season, after he previously won the award following Arizona’s week six win at Cleveland. It is also the seventh Player of the Week selection for the Cardinals in 2021, tied for the most selections in a single season in team history (2009).

Prater is the fi rst Cardinals player to win Special Teams Player of the Week twice in the same season since 2014 (Chandler Catanzaro) and is just the third kicker in team history to accomplish that feat. It is Prater’s 14th career Special Teams Player of the Week selection, trailing only Adam Vinatieri (19) for the most Special Teams Player of the Week awards in NFL history by a kicker.

Prater made all four of his fi eld goal attempts (24, 53, 26 and 38) and his one PAT, tying his season high with 13 points in the Cardinals three-point win.

His 53-yard fi eld goal just before halftime was his 66th career FG of 50-plus yards, extending his NFL record. It was also Prater’s seventh fi eld goal of 50plus yards in 2021, a new Cardinals single-season record.

Prater’s seven fi eld goals of 50-plus yards in 2021 tie his career-high for a single season. It is the fourth time in his career Prater has had seven fi eld goals of 50-plus yards in a season.

With one game remaining, Prater has accumulated 125 points (27 fi eld goals, 44 points after touchdown) in 2021. That represents the fi fth-highest single-season total in franchise history.

In addition to Prater winning Special Teams Player of the Week twice this year, Chandler Jones won Defensive Player of the Week twice (week 11 at Seattle, week one at Tennessee), Jordan Hicks was named Defensive Player of the Week following Arizona’s week 13 win at Chicago, Byron Murphy was selected as Defensive Player of the Week after Arizona’s week three win at Jacksonville, and Kyler Murray was named Offensive Player of the Week after the Cardinals win vs. Minnesota in week two.

Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Prater won the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance on Jan. 2. It is the seventh Player of the Week selection for the Cardinals in 2021, tied for the most selections in a single season in team history (2009). (Photo courtesy of the Arizona Cardinals)