The Arizona Cardinals are currently 2-8. There have not been that many bright spots to point throughout the season. One of those few bright spots has been the play of veteran kicker Matt Prater. Exactly how good has he been in his career and this season?
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Matt Prater is one of the most consistent kickers in NFL history. He became a full time starting kicker in 2008 for the Denver Broncos. Prater has only made less than 80% of his field goals in two seasons since 2008. The best season of his career was 2013.
He was selected to his first Probowl after making 96.2% of his field goal attempts including a record 64 yard field goal. This was the record until Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker broke it last season.
NFL Record!
Justin Tucker gets a friendly bounce on his 66-yard field goal to win the game!
Previous record: Matt Prater 64-yards in 2013#NFL #Ravens pic.twitter.com/IFMHymuOul
— Sports Culture (@_SPORTSCULTURE_) September 26, 2021
Prater was 25/26 on field goals and 75/75 on extra point attempts in 2013. The one field goal he missed was an attempt of over 50 yards.
This year Prater is kicking at a very high level for the Cardinals. He has made 90% of his field goal attempts including a long of 62 yards. He is 18/20 so far, including 5/6 from beyond 50 yards. He is also 10/11 on extra point attempts. How does this compare to other great kicking seasons.
The Great Seasons
In 1998, Gary Anderson had an amazing season for the Minnesota Vikings. He made all of his kicks and all of his extra point attempts in the regular season. Anderson missed one field goal attempt that season and Vikings’ fans haven’t gotten over it.
Only kick Gary Anderson missed in 1998. Only kick we needed. Ugh… pic.twitter.com/aTzxjaagFX
— Boxy (@chult24) September 5, 2023
That kick was in the NFC championship game and would of put Here are the other kickers who have made 100% of their kicks in a season.
| Mason Crosby (36) | 100.000% | 2020 | GNB | |
| Kai Forbath (29) | 100.000% | 2016 | MIN | |
| Shayne Graham (32) | 100.000% | 2010 | NWE | |
| Garrett Hartley (22) | 100.000% | 2008 | NOR | |
| Jason Myers (29) | 100.000% | 2020 | SEA | |
| Mike Vanderjagt (33) | 100.000% | 2003 | IND | |
| Jeff Wilkins (28) | 100.000% | 2000 | STL | |
| Tony Zendejas (31) | 100.000% | 1991 | RAM |
There are two kickers who have made 100% of their kicks so far this season, Brandon Aubrey for the Dallas Cowboys and Harrison Butker for the Kansas City Chiefs.
As good as Matt Prater has been this season, he is not close to having the best season of all-time. He would of have make the rest of his field goals for this year to have a top 20 season of all-time.
