Matthew Stafford tied an NFL record with his seventh fourth-quarter comeback win of the season after the Lions' 16-13 Thanksgiving victory over the Vikings. The overlooked reason, however, for the success of the Cardiac Cats in the final frame has been the reliability of kicker Matt Prater.
Detroit's kicker was 2 for 2 on game-tying or game-winning field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter or overtime Thursday, extending his career perfect mark in that metric to 25 of 25.
"I don't think you can ever think anything is automatic, but he's as good as they come in these situations," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said after the game.
Prater made a 48-yard boot to tie the contest at 13 with 1:45 left. Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford gifted Prater another opportunity to prove his clutch kicking, throwing an interception to Darius Slay to put the Lions in range for another miraculous come-from-behind win.
After a Stafford kneel, Prater drilled a kick from 40 yards out through the uprights to give the Lions sole possession of first place in the NFC North.
"I still have a lot of confidence where I don't doubt myself," Prater said. "Basically, I have the same mind set as I would with an extra point in the first quarter. I don't go out and ever expect that I won't make the kick."
In a season highlighted by the constant struggles of kickers, the Lions have to be relieved that they don't have to fret with their special teams unit with the game on the line.
"Can't say enough about Prater," Stafford said. "The guy, he's as clutch as they get. Really that unit has done a heck of a job for us all season long. I know they'll continue to do a great job for us."
