ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Matt Prater’s reputation as one of the game’s most clutch performers was built on kicks like the one he missed Sunday.
Prater has made 20 game-winning or game-tying field goals in the final 4 minutes of games in his career, and while Sunday’s miss against the Buffalo Bills didn’t quite fall into that situation, it’s the kind of kick coaches trust him implicitly to make.
With about 6 minutes left in Sunday’s 14-13 loss, the Detroit Lions played for a long field goal on third-and-8 from their own 33.
Matthew Stafford’s bubble screen to Brandon Powell went for 3 yards, and Lions coach Matt Patricia sent Prater on for a 48-yard field goal try.