MATT PRATER

Backup quarterback Brett Rypien overcame relentless pressure from a J.J. Watt-led Arizona defense, Justin Simmons had two interceptions and the Denver Broncos held off the Cardinals 24-15 on Sunday. The game featured two backup QBs, but Arizona lost Colt McCoy to a concussion early in the third quarter after he took a hit while diving for a first down. McCoy was intercepted once and his replacement, Trace McSorley, threw two more picks.

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions have cycled through 10 kickers after letting Matt Prater walk when the new regime took over in 2021. Badgley was named the NFC special teams player of the week after delivering a perfect day in the team’s 40-14 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Related: Lions special teams coordinator defends kicker search that has now reached 10Related: Lions sign K Michael Badgley to 53-man rosterThe Lions signed Matthew Wright and Randy Bullock to replace Prater in 2021. Gonzalez, Wright and Bullock have won special teams player of the week honors since their respective stints in Detroit. And I think that whoever we end up going with will go out there and play well for us,” Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said a little more than a month ago.

ALLEN PARK -- Jack Fox lived between a friend’s floor and Matt Prater’s basement before his first season with the Detroit Lions. And now the team is reportedly making Fox the highest-paid punter in the NFL with a three-year extension. Fox was set to be a restricted free agent after the season, so this keeps the record-setting punter locked in Detroit. Fox is ninth in the league through six weeks this season, with a net average per punt of 43.5 yards. Kickoff, punt, punt for accuracy, punt for distance.

Marco Wilson and Isaiah Simmons scored touchdowns on two pick-6s late in the first half and used that stunning change in momentum to lift the Arizona Cardinals over the New Orleans Saints 42-34.

ALLEN PARK -- Matt Prater was the best long-ball hitter in Detroit Lions history, and the Detroit Lions’ history includes a proud tradition of some very fine kickers. “I think saying that there’s been 10 kickers in here makes it sound worse than it is,” special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said. He had a great camp, he had a better camp than Riley had for us. Everything was going great, so we were excited. We thought we kind of had the answer to the question, and then ultimately Seibert didn’t feel good.

Though Matt Ammendola missed the game-tying field goal for the Cardinals, Justin Pugh reminded reporters that the loss isn't just on one guy.

Jalen Hurts ran for two touchdowns and the Philadelphia Eagles remained the NFL’s only unbeaten team, beating Arizona 20-17 on Sunday after Matt Ammendola’s late field-goal attempt for the Cardinals sailed wide right.

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions’ two-year odyssey to replace Matt Prater hit yet another snag on Sunday, when fill-in kicker Dominik Eberle missed two point-after attempts and pushed a kickoff out of bounds in the 48-45 loss against Seattle. “Yeah, I mean it’s -- it is what it is,” a clearly frustrated Dan Campbell said after the loss. A day later, the Lions already have a kicker tryout on the books. And before you ask: Yes, he’s made both of his point-after attempts. Then he didn’t practice at all last week because of soreness in his right groin, which prompted the Lions to sign Eberle off the practice squad.

The Cardinals failed to clinch a playoff spot for the third straight week after a 22-16 loss to the banged-up Indianapolis Colts, who were missing arguably their best defensive player and four starting offensive linemen. After a 7-0 record to start the season, the Cardinals are just 3-5. The mistakes started early Saturday and piled up in a brutal first half: Kicker Matt Prater missed a long field goal and an extra point.

Carson Wentz threw two touchdown passes, Jonathan Taylor ran for 108 yards and the banged-up Indianapolis Colts continued their late-season surge with a gritty 22-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Matthew Stafford threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns, Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. each caught a touchdown pass and the Los Angeles Rams held on for a 30-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

PITTSBURGH -- In a year where very little has gone right for the Detroit Lions, kicker Austin Seibert has stood out as one of the year’s more pleasant surprises. Seibert returned from the off week nursing a right hip injury that held him out of practice all week. The injury is the latest turn in Detroit’s bid to replace Matt Prater, who was allowed to walk in free agency. He might not be Matt Prater, but that’s pretty reliable. When Seibert missed the Ravens game due to COVID, Santoso made a go-ahead 35-yarder that gave Detroit a 17-16 lead with 1:08 left.

From Lamar Jackson’s improbable comeback that ended in an overtime win for Baltimore to the missed kick festival between Green Bay and Cincinnati, the NFL had several more games go down to the wire in Week 5.

The Arizona Cardinals improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1974, riding a stellar defensive performance to a 17-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Matt Ryan threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns including the first NFL score for Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons held on and closed out the New York Jets in a 27-20 victory in the NFL’s return to London.

Kyler Murray threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns, and the Arizona Cardinals topped the Minnesota Vikings 34-33 after Greg Joseph missed a 37-yard field goal wide right in the final seconds.

Kyler Murray scored five touchdowns and linebacker Chandler Jones had a career-high five sacks as the Arizona Cardinals simply dominated the Tennessee Titans 38-13 for a big road win to open the season.

These guys all know that they’re always competing, whether it’s against themselves, somebody in the building or somebody outside the building. I think that’s really our goal as a unit and that’s my goal individually, is just to try to get a little bit better every day, and I think that’s what his focus is, but yeah. I think that’s one of his real strengths, to be honest with you,” Fipp said. I think he’s worked hard on his game. QB Jared Goff draws old NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers in Detroit Lions debut5 things to watch: Detroit Lions preparing for both Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance

The Lions set their initial 53-man roster earlier this week without a kicker on the list, venturing into uncharted waters ahead of the season. They cut Matthew Wright after one preseason game, leaving Bullock and recent addition Zane Gonzalez locked in a battle through the rest of camp. They have since claimed kicker Austin Seibert off waivers via the Cincinnati Bengals, adding Gonzalez back to the practice squad. Bullock and Wright were rough in the team’s first showing in front of fans at their Ford Field scrimmage. He’s done it, he’s been consistent, he’s had experience, and so again, you don’t make decisions about, ‘OK, this guy won,’” Holmes said.

Matt Prater kicked two field goals in the final two minutes, including a 47-yard game winner with no time remaining, to lift the Arizona Cardinals over the Dallas Cowboys 19-16 on Friday night in a preseason game.

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions are making some moves in the kicker room, signing Zane Gonzalez and waiving Matthew Wright. Wright, much like Lions kicker Randy Bullock, didn’t fare well in the team’s weekend scrimmage at Ford Field, missing his final two attempts and a couple more with the team back outside for practice Tuesday. So, now it’ll be Gonzalez vs. Bullock on the unenviable quest to replace Matt Prater. Lions coach Dan Campbell was asked about the kicking struggles over the weekend, coming to Bullock’s defense at the moment. Gonzalez was limited to 12 games last season, going 16 of 22 with a long of 56 yards.

At the same time, I think I’m prepared more situationally for the season. “I think I’m pretty hard on myself anyway, so I think I’m pretty nitpicky with myself anyway. But, yeah yeah, I think I’ve done a good job of focusing on smaller things and really not being afraid to make a mistake out here in practice. “Prater is such a great guy that if you ask him, he’ll say, ‘Yeah, the holding wasn’t a problem,’” Fox said. I’ve kind of changed like my position holding -- I’m more on the side now.

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions wasted little time finding Matt Prater’s potential replacement, with the team reportedly finalizing a deal with veteran kicker Randy Bullock. Bullock, 31, spent parts of the previous five seasons in Cincinnati after stops with both New York teams, the Steelers and Texans. Prater made a ridiculous 21 of 27 field-goal attempts from more than 50 yards in seven seasons with the Lions. While Prater’s final season in Detroit was far from his best, he didn’t miss any kicks from closer than 40 yards. Bullock missed two kicks from less than 40 yards out, including a brutal one at the horn in last season’s opener.

FILE - Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky throws a pass during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis, in this Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, file photo. Now that the muzzles have been removed for NFL team executives and the players they either re-signed or added in free agency, Thursday was a time for explanations and reflections. New England bringing back LB Kyle Van Noy, Buffalo grabbing QB Mitchell Trubisky, and Tennessee getting All-Pro long snapper Morgan Cox. Green), players staying put (Leonard Williams, Derek Wolfe) and even a player coming out of retirement (Kyle Long). He played 14 games with eight starts for Baltimore after signing a $3 million contract to join the team from Denver.

Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) celebrates a game-winning extra point against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. The Detroit Lions won 23-22. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)The Detroit Lions will need a new kicker next season. Prater, 36, made two Pro Bowls as a Lions kicker, as well as a slew of clutch game-winning kicks for the team over the years. pic.twitter.com/ZVsiHz1y4D — Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) March 17, 2021The new Lions kicker could be on the roster already: The team signed Steelers kicker Matthew Wright to a futures contract in January.

ALLEN PARK -- The greatest long-ball hitter in Detroit Lions history is, well, history. Matt Prater is signing a free-agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals, ending one of the great runs by a kicker in team history. He became a starter in Denver before returning to the club in the middle of the 2014 season, then went on to hit each of the six longest field goals in Lions history. When Hanson retired after the 2012 season, the Lions turned to David Akers for one season before going through some serious turbulence in 2014. The last time the Lions missed more than seven attempts in a season was 2001, and they still haven’t done it since.

pic.twitter.com/h5BnOab3TC — Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) November 24, 2019Thomas Fletcher, LS, AlabamaThomas Fletcher was recognized as the nation’s top long snapper, winning the second-ever Patrick Mannelly Award. He’s ESPN’s second-ranked long snapper in this year’s class. Camaron Cheeseman, LS, MichiganCamaron Cheeseman opted out of the 2020 campaign after serving as Michigan’s long snapper for three seasons. With Steven Wirtel signing a futures deal with the Los Angeles Rams, expect the Lions to kick the tires on this year’s top long snapper prospects after the draft. Related: Michigan football long snapper strives to be anonymous -- and that’s a good thingHuge thanks to @KohlsSnapping for putting this together!

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions have hired former Eagles special teams coordinator Dave Fipp to the same position. Williams took over for the rest of the season, recently leaving Detroit for the special teams coordinator gig in Atlanta. Related: Detroit Lions fire special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs over going rogue on fake puntDetroit’s special teams were a bright spot this season, leading the league in blocked punts, ranking third in Rick Gosselin’s annual rankings. Miles Killebrew and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, two of the team’s top special teams contributors, are also unrestricted free agents. He was the assistant special teams coach in Miami (2011-2012) and San Francisco (2008-2010) through his first four seasons in the NFL.

ALLEN PARK -- Dan Campbell isn’t just the Detroit Lions’ new head coach. The Lions now lead the league in kickers from UCF, which also happens to be the alma mater of Matt Prater. The Lions are also expected to hire former Saints defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn as defensive coordinator. The most interesting thing he said was about linebacker Jarrad Davis, who never lived up to the first-round hype but still caught the eye of the new Lions coach. He also said his kneecap speech was meant for Lions fans, and he didn’t care how it was perceived nationally.

DETROIT -- Matt Prater had his worst season since joining the Lions all the way back in 2014. Not only did he set the NFL record for most career 50-yard field goals with a 54-yard bomb in the finale against Minnesota, but he clinched free beer for the entire city of Detroit. @budlight — Matt Prater (@MattPrater_5) July 19, 2020Bud Light agreed to amend its challenge, changing it to a head-to-head battle between Prater and McManus. @budlight @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/c7XHx7Yop3 — Matt Prater (@MattPrater_5) January 4, 2021Prater made 20 of his 27 field-goal attempts this season. “That stuff usually takes care of itself and works out in the end either way,” Prater said.

Because the Detroit Lions still have the Detroit Lions’ defense, and that thing officially became the worst in franchise history with a 37-35 loss on Sunday in the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions (5-11) set franchise records for the most points and yards allowed in a season. The Lions finish the season on a four-game losing streak and just 1-5 against the NFC North. -- Number of touchdowns for former Lions second-round pick Ameer Abdullah against his old team this season: Two. -- Matt Prater is the greatest long-ball hitter in Lions history.

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)DETROIT – On the day of the Detroit Lions’ final game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings, kicker Matt Prater made NFL history with the most 50-plus yard field goals. Prater’s record comes during his 59th career field goal on Sunday, passing former Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski’s 58 field goals. Prater passed the standing record with a 54-yard field goal in the second quarter of Sunday’s game. On Dec. 20, he tied with Janikowski for the record, making a 58th field goal in the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans. He currently holds the NFL record with the longest field goal at 64 yards.

___7:07 p.m.Derrick Henry has become the eighth man in NFL history to run for at least 2,000 yards in a single season. Henry came into Sunday’s regular season finale needing 223 yards rushing to become the second man in franchise history to reach 2,000. Henry came in with 1,777 yards rushing this season, and he now is 88 yards away from becoming the eighth man in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards. The Titans lead Houston 17-9 at halftime with NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry running for 113 yards and a touchdown in the first half. The Green Bay Packers have set an NFL season record for second-quarter points.

ALLEN PARK -- Matt Prater has endured a very down season by his standards but still plans to play in 2021, preferring to stay in Detroit. Related: What Matt Prater has done in Detroit is nuts. What Matt Prater thinks he can still do is unprecedented. Matt Prater walking it off from 59 🙌#OnePride pic.twitter.com/1Dv72jAfyO — Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 15, 2020“No, I can’t really put my finger on it,” Prater said. Related: Matt Prater faces uncertain future heading into final month of season“I think just some of those longer kicks, you’re not going to make them all the time,” Prater said.

ALLEN PARK -- Robert Prince has never been a head coach. Right tackle Tyrell Crosby (ankle) already has been ruled out against Tampa Bay, while left tackle Taylor Decker (groin), center Frank Ragnow (throat) and right guard/tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai (brain) are all questionable. Linebacker Jamie Collins (neck), safety Jayron Kearse (hip), cornerback Darryl Roberts (hip) and kicker Matt Prater (back) are all questionable. Both players were listed as limited after being listed as full-go the rest of the week, causing some concern. Prater has never missed a game since joining the Lions in the middle of the 2014 season.

The Titans (10-4) did their part with a second straight victory and fourth in five games to stay atop the AFC South. Henry capped the opening drive with a 3-yard TD run, his 15th this season. The Titans led 21-7 after a 75-yard TD pass from Tannehill to Corey Davis and a 17-yard TD run by Tannehill. Romeo Okwara sacked Tannehill two plays later for the Lions' first safety in 75 games, also against Tennessee on Sept. 18, 2016. The Titans put it away with 22 points in the fourth quarter with Tannehill's second TD run and two more TD passes.

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions aren’t arguing the call, but they’re still looking for clarity regarding the actual ruling on their razor-thin onside attempt against the Packers in Week 14. I don’t think that’s the reason (and) they didn’t give that to us. “I think that’s where you’ve seen, obviously, the evolution of the play has done to these kickers being so talented, and they’re like wizards with the football. “That’s really the only place there is for creativity. That’s really the specialists.

The Detroit Lions will hold out hope as long as they can that Matthew Stafford can play at Tennessee with banged-up ribs. Stafford stayed in the game to hand off to Kerryon Johnson for a touchdown on the next play, but was evaluated by the team's medical staff on the sideline. Stafford went toward the locker room, returned to throw passes near the benches before going back out of sight. “That guy loves to play football and it’s going to take a lot to keep him out," Bevell said. STOCK UPThe Lions have missed on a lot of draft picks, but T.J. Hockenson is not one of them.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Detroit. Rodgers ran for a tiebreaking score in the third quarter and threw three touchdown passes, lifting the Green Bay Packers to a 31-24 win over the the Detroit Lions to clinch the NFC North title. “To have the whole thing come through Green Bay is something we’ve talked about for a long time," Rodgers said. “That would definitely be in our favor with the weather that we have in Green Bay. Green Bay repeated as division champion with its win and Minnesota’s loss to Tampa Bay earlier in the day.

ALLEN PARK -- Matt Prater has been so good for so long in Detroit. He’s missed seven field-goal attempts, a personal high since his first full season in Denver all the way back in 2008. That last one came from 59 yards too, matching the franchise record -- a record set by none other than Matt Prater back in 2015. “I can tell you guys that Matt Prater has not lost his fastball,” Coombs said. “One of my favorite things about Matt Prater is he’s not a nervous personality,” Coombs said.

FINAL -- Detroit Lions 34, Chicago Bears 30Quick observations: Lions roar back from double-digit deficit, stun Bears in Darrell Bevell’s debutLive: Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Postgame Chat Yes, the Lions did just pull off that comeback victory! Lions 34, Bears 302:13 -- Chicago Bears drive starts on own 11Montgomery takes a short run into the two-minute warning. Bears 30, Lions 276:38 -- Chicago Bears drive starts on own 45Another tackles for loss, this one for Reggie Ragland. 11:23 -- Detroit Lions drive starts on own 25Another Adrian Peterson second-and-10 run makes it third-and-6 for the Lions. LIONS INJURY UPDATE:CB Mike Ford, Back, Questionable — Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) December 6, 2020Second quarter:30 -- Detroit Lions drive starts on own 32Lions use a timeout after a 5-yard pass to Kerryon Johnson.

Lions kicker Matt Prater has been named NFC special teams player of the week, the second time he’s won the award this year and seventh time in seven years with Detroit. Including his time in Denver, Prater has now won player of the week awards 12 times overall. His 59-yarder against Washington tied the franchise record for longest field goal, a record that was set by -- who else? He also canned a 53-yarder earlier against Washington, giving him his seventh game with multiple 50-yarders, an NFL record. He’s now hit 75% of his field-goal attempts from beyond 50 yards, which is, yep, another NFL record.

Cleveland Browns running backs Nick Chubb (24) and Kareem Hunt (27) walk off the field after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Cleveland. A win is a win; let Las Vegas worry about the margin of victory. It appeared there were actually 10 seconds left when down judge Dana McKenzie blew his whistle and raised his left hand. There actually should have been only 4 seconds left, which probably would have forced a Hail Mary by Stafford. But with 6 seconds left, Stafford had time for a quick pass, and he hit Marvin Jones for 9 yards.

The Detroit Lions needed heroic efforts from both men, and both men delivered in a dramatic 30-27 win on Sunday against the Washington Football Team at Ford Field. The Football Team (2-7) is really bad. “They did an outstanding job in the second half coming back on the Giants (last week too) and making it a tight game," Patricia said. “Every game we win, we’ve got to clean stuff up -- this one is no different,” Stafford said. Of course, the Lions hated to hear that, and would scoff at the mere notion they might be a pretender.

They’ve got really good players, and give credit to them for what they did in the second half. I think he’s getting more and more comfortable back there. He’s seeing some of the really good decisions, some excellent throws, put the ball where he needed to. It felt really good. Thought that was really good.

DETROIT -- Sixteen seconds. Stafford threw touchdown passes to Jones, Marvin Hall and D’Andre Swift in the first 40 minutes of the game. That preserved those precious few seconds, and Stafford went to work with all three timeouts remaining. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/pZ84SVUblb — Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 16, 2020Of course, the Lions still had to make a 59-yard field goal to finish it off. “There are definitely some things we can do better," Stafford said, "but I’m just proud of our guys for fighting.

It took ten weeks into the NFL season but the Detroit Lions finally tallied their first win of the season at Ford Field in more than a year. The Lions (4-5) beat the Washington Football Team 30-27 on a 59-yard field goal by kicker Matt Prater. Stafford chucked a nine-yard pass to receiver Marvin Jones and Prater did the rest. He hit all three field-goal attempts and Sunday was the third time this season that the Lions' fortunes came down to the veteran kicker. Here’s what they’re saying nationally about the win.

DETROIT -- It’s hard to doubt Matt Prater, and the Detroit Lions kicker proved why once again on Sunday. Prater missed six field-goal attempts through Detroit’s first eight games of the season, which is one more than he missed through all 16 games last year. Prater hit a 39-yarder at the buzzer to beat the Cardinals in Week 3. Stafford hit Marvin Jones for 9 yards, the Lions called timeout, and on came Prater. “I was extremely happy for Matt Prater and that operation to get it up and through the uprights,” Stafford said.

(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)DETROIT – 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 Prater's 59-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Lions to a 30-27 win over Washington on Sunday. Prater made a go-ahead, 37-yard field goal with 2:42 remaining. It made a field goal and had a punt, missed field goal and Terry McLaurin's fumble on the possessions. In the second half, Washington got into the end zone on 82- and 84-yard drives and had the ball midway through the fourth quarter down a touchdown.

As far as good news goes, that’s about it for the Detroit Lions. Prater split the pipes with a 59-yard buzzer-beater that sent Detroit to a 30-27 win on Sunday against the Washington Football Team. This defense -- Matt Patricia’s draft picks, Matt Patricia’s free agents, Matt Patricia’s scheme, Matt Patricia’s defense -- has just been historically bad at protecting leads. The Lions needed just 17 minutes to turn a 24-3 lead into a 24-all tie against a two-win team starting a backup quarterback. Stafford completed a quick 9-yard pass to Marvin Jones, Detroit called time out and Prater trotted on for a 59-yard field-goal attempt.

Prater had never misfired more than five times in a season since joining the Lions in the middle of 2014. Now he’s missed six just halfway through this season after pushing a 46-yarder wide left in Sunday’s loss against Minnesota. "So, I guess he’s upset with himself, would be the best way to say it. But Prater is the best long-ball artist in Lions history, and among the best in NFL history. He’s missed twice from 46 yards in recent weeks, including that attempt in Minnesota.

While those certainly aren’t the sky is falling figures, it’s worth nothing Prater missed only five field-goal attempts all last year. I don’t think, I wouldn’t say we’ve been perfect all season snap-hold, but the other day was pretty clean,” Coombs said. Just missed it and it is what it is.”Related: What Matt Prater has done in Detroit is nuts. What Matt Prater thinks he can still do is unprecedented. I don’t really go into a psychological process of what buttons I can push or anything like that.

His momentum carried him into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown that made it 22-16 with 1:12 left. They emptied out the backfield and sent five players into the end zone. But the Falcons were sitting back in a Cover 3 that had seven men in the end zone. “They played a different coverage than we thought, and it ended up being zone," Hockenson said. Stafford stepped up in the pocket, and that’s when he saw Hockenson freelancing into a soft spot in the zone.

Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers (90) celebrates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) makes the catch against Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)ATLANTA – The Lions let the Falcons score a touchdown. Matthew Stafford connected with T.J. Hockenson on an 11-yard touchdown pass as time expired and Matt Prater booted a 48-yard extra point to give Detroit an improbable 23-22 victory over Atlanta on Sunday. The Lions (3-3) won their second in a row — their first winning streak since early in the 2019 season. Touchdown, Lions.

And let’s be honest, with the way the Lions have finished games under Matt Patricia, it felt like this thing was over. No gimme for Matt Prater, who had just missed from 47 yards late in the fourth quarter. It was an illegal formation by Atlanta, and Detroit had a 23-22 victory and its first winning streak since the opening month of last season. The Lions were still at their own 40-yard line with 20 seconds left when Golladay caught that 29-yard pass in heavy traffic. But that didn’t stop him from making one of the biggest plays in the game for Detroit.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons actually have a shot at a winning streak. “I stopped looking at the standings about three weeks ago,” Falcons running back Todd Gurley said with a chuckle. '”Coming off a bye week, the Lions (2-3) romped to a 34-16 victory at Jacksonville, finally showing they could hold a double-digit lead. The Lions haven't had a winning streak since Weeks 2 and 3 of the 2019 season. Now, they've got to face Gurley, who seems to be getting up to the speed in the Falcons offense.

Hank Fraley is one of the unsung heroes of Detroit’s season. Frank Ragnow remains one of the top centers in the league, ranked second overall according to ProFootballFocus. Vaitai and guard Joe Dahl have missed multiple starts each, while both Vaitai and Crosby left Sunday’s game because of dehydration issues. The guys love playing for Fraley too, calling him a players' coach with a big heart and terrific work ethic. But five games into the season, he hasn’t hit anything from beyond 55.

ALLEN PARK -- Matt Prater was just named the NFC’s special teams player of the week for the 11th time, and you can make a convincing case he wasn’t even Detroit’s best specialist in Arizona. What a special start for Detroit’s special teams under first-year coordinator Brayden Coombs. “I talk about our job on special teams being whatever it takes to help the team win," Coombs said. But don’t overlook the total contributions of the special teams unit in that game either, because they played a pivotal role in helping Detroit steal a win on the road. But Coombs came up in that excellent special teams program in Cincinnati, and head coach Matt Patricia brought him in to tear apart Detroit’s scheme in the third phase.

Yet according to the good people at the NFL, he wasn’t even the best special teams player on his own team on Sunday, with place kicker Matt Prater earning NFC special teams player of the week honors. This special teams unit has been pretty good. Pretty, pretty, pretty good. “I don’t know what happens to me after a game-winner because everybody goes so crazy,” Prater said after the game. That moment has Matt Prater written all over it.”This is Prater’s 11th special teams player of the week award, which ranks 17th all time.

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 reversed it, and the realization that nothing was going to come easy. Prater made his 15th game-winning kick with less than 2 minutes to play in the fourth quarter or overtime. Six plays later, the Lions took a 10-7 lead when Stafford hit Jesse James for a 5-yard score. The 35-year-old Peterson, who is in his 14th NFL season, played six games for the Cardinals in 2017. The Cardinals went ahead 7-3 when Murray’s perfectly placed, the high-arcing throw went over two Detroit defenders and into Isabella’s hands.

The Detroit Lions are in the win column after beating the Arizona Cardinals 26-23 at the buzzer on Sunday. 2⃣8⃣ yards for #⃣2⃣8⃣ on his first touch of the day!#DETvsAZ | 📺 FOX | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/ZYMevPyqKs — Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 27, 2020Wide receivers: BKenny Golladay looked to be under close supervision returning from his hamstring injury. The Lions quarterback was sacked four times, and the running game was ineffective, with 27 attempts for 90 yards. Kenyan Drake ran 18 times for 73 yards while Murray took off five times for 29 yards and the score. Kyler Murray was erratic, and those three turnovers were massive in helping the Lions overcome settling for four field goals.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Matt Prater has drilled game-winning kicks everywhere from Detroit to Minnesota to London to a 23-degree wind chill kind of day in Chicago. Matt Prater (59 yards)T-2. Matt Prater (58 yards)T-2. Matt Prater (58 yards)4. That moment has Matt Prater written all over it.”Sure does.

The Detroit Lions have their first win of 2020, and they pulled it off in dramatic fashion. Lions kicker Matt Prater nailed a 39-yard field goal as time expired, capping off a game-winning drive starting at Detroit’s own 9-yard line. This win ends Detroit’s 11-game losing streak dating back to last October. Those fourth-quarter comebacks are the most since 2009, while the game-winning drives are good enough for second. Related: Quick observations: Lions bend, finally don’t break in buzzer-beating win against ArizonaThe Lions entered the final frame trailing 23-20 but forced two fourth-quarter punts leading to field goals in the final 6:44.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Matt Prater made a 39-yard field goal as time expired, Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Detroit Lions snapped an 11-game losing streak dating to last season by beating the Arizona Cardinals 26-23 on Sunday. Stafford calmly led the Lions downfield, Prater connected on his fourth field goal of the afternoon and the Lions finally got to celebrate a victory. Arizona's Kyler Murray threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score, but he also had three interceptions. Six plays later, the Lions took a 10-7 lead when Stafford hit Jesse James for a 5-yard score. The 35-year-old Peterson, who is in his 14th NFL season, played six games for the Cardinals in 2017.

ALLEN PARK -- Matt Prater doesn’t miss many kicks, but the kicker has opened the season missing two long-distant field-goal tries through the first two games. The Lions coach confidently added that a 55-yard attempt for someone like Prater is “certainly within our field goal range.”Related: What Matt Prater has done in Detroit is nuts. What Matt Prater thinks he can still do is unprecedented. He holds the NFL record for the longest field goal, a 64-yarder hit in 2013 while with the Broncos. Related: No regrets: Lions have utmost faith in kicker Matt Prater after missed fourth-quarter attempt“I don’t think he’s discouraged.

DETROIT – If the Detroit Lions' first game was any indication, their “Dagger Time” mantra could use some sharpening. For a second consecutive season, the Lions blew a big fourth-quarter lead in their opening game. On Sunday against Chicago, the Lions allowed the last 21 points in a 27-23 loss to the Bears. Rookie D'Andre Swift, who had scored the game's first touchdown in the second quarter, dropped what could have been the winning TD with 6 seconds left. Don't let this get you down,'” said Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 93 yards in his first game with the Lions.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford throws against the Chicago Bears in the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)DETROIT – Mitchell Trubisky perfectly lofted a 27-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Anthony Miller with 1:54 remaining and the Chicago Bears held on to beat the Detroit Lions 27-23 Sunday. Trubisky threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to help Chicago come back from a 17-point deficit. It looked familiar to Lions fans: Detroit opened last season by blowing an 18-point lead at Arizona and settling for a tie. Late in the game, Lions fans likely would've filled the facility with a chorus of boos.

Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions had a chance to build a big lead in the first half. When they left the door open for the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers took over. Putting up points as touchdowns, not field goals.The Lions were in position for a big NFC North road win after they opened a 22-13 lead with 12:17 remaining. Prater connected from 54 yards after Justin Coleman intercepted a Rodgers pass that went off Darrius Shepherds facemask at the Lions 2. But Detroit (2-2-1) was shut out the rest of the way, and Rodgers led the Packers on two scoring drives.

Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions had a chance to build a big lead in the first half. When they left the door open for the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers took over. Putting up points as touchdowns, not field goals.The Lions were in position for a big NFC North road win after they opened a 22-13 lead with 12:17 remaining. Prater connected from 54 yards after Justin Coleman intercepted a Rodgers pass that went off Darrius Shepherds facemask at the Lions 2. But Detroit (2-2-1) was shut out the rest of the way, and Rodgers led the Packers on two scoring drives.