Matt Prater gives Detroit Lions strong finishing kick

DETROIT -- Matt Prater tried talking coaches into letting him try a record-setting 67-yard field-goal attempt at the end of the first half of the Detroit Lions win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday.

And while he didn't get very far, for understandable reasons -- the Lions didn't want to risk Cordarralle Patterson returning a miss for a touchdown just before halftime -- coaches have the utmost confidence in Prater, who improved to 25 for 25 in his career on game-tying or game-winning field goals after drilling two more in a 16-13 win over the Vikings on Thanksgiving.

Prater made a 48-yard kick with 1:45 to play to tie the game at 13, then nailed a 40-yarder as time expired to lift the Lions to their sixth victory in seven games.

"I don't think you can ever say anything's automatic," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "But he's as good as they come in those situations."

Prater has made four game-winning field goals this year as the Lions have come from behind in the fourth quarter for all seven of their victories. He also made a game-tying 58-yarder at the end of regulation in the Lions' first win over the Vikings earlier this month.

Prater, who rescued the Lions amid major kicking woes when he signed with the team as a free agent after serving a four-game suspension to start the 2014 season, has been a picture of stability over the last two seasons.

He made 22 of 24 field goals last year, including a franchise record-tying 59-yarder. And while he's missed two extra points this season (one was blocked), he's now 21 of 24 on field goals including a perfect 4-for-4 from 50-plus yards.

"I don't know if I'd say (I have) ice-cold veins," Prater said. "I have a lot of confidence in what we're doing as far as a unit with the guys up front, (Don Muhlbach) snapping, Sam (Martin) holding. I just have a lot of confidence where I don't doubt myself."

Prater's leg strength gives the Lions a unique weapon late in games in an era when many teams are struggling in the kicking department.

He blasted a record 64-yarder in 2013 with the Denver Broncos, and his 58-yarder against the Vikings earlier this month was good with plenty of room to spare.

As for his late-game heroics, Prater said he likes when opposing teams try to ice him with a late timeout, and teammates say he's unflappable under pressure.

"I basically have the same mindset as an extra point in the first quarter where I don't go out and ever expect that I'm not going to make the kick," Prater said. "Maybe, I don't know, I've been a little luckier maybe in the final two minutes of games on tying or winning kicks. But I try not to overanalyze it too much and hope the most important kicks always the next one."

REPORT CARD VS. VIKINGS

PASSING OFFENSE: B-minus -- Matthew Stafford completed his first eight passes Thursday, but struggled thereafter until the Lions' game-tying field-goal drive late in the fourth quarter. He finished 23 of 40 for 232 yards, and seemed out of synch with several of his receivers. Anquan Boldin continues to be a great free-agent signing. He had a team-high seven catches for 69 yards, converted two third downs on the Lions' opening drive and scored a touchdown. Tight end Eric Ebron did not catch a pass and was targeted just once as he struggled against Minnesota's good linebacking corps.

RUSHING OFFENSE: C -- The Lions finished with 94 yard rushing on 19 carries, but 32 of it came on three scrambles by Stafford. Stafford continues to be the Lions' best running game weapon at times. Zach Zenner was stopped on fourth-and-short when sixth lineman Corey Robinson whiffed on a block, and Dwayne Washington had five carries for just 19 yards. Theo Riddick ran for 45 yards on nine carries, but the offensive line was just so-so in its blocking.

PASS DEFENSE: A-minus -- Sam Bradford completed 31 of 37 passes for 224 yards, but he rarely threw more than a few yards downfield. The Lions did not get a sack against Minnesota's beat-up offensive line, but they did bat two balls in the air at the line of scrimmage, one by Haloti Ngata on fourth down. Darius Slay had the biggest play of the game, intercepting Bradford with 35 seconds left to set up Matt Prater's game-winning field goal. Slay did get called for pass interference early to negate a Glover Quin interception.

RUSH DEFENSE: B-plus -- The Vikings averaged a healthy 5.1 yards per carry, but 22 of their 82 yards rushing came on a reverse to Cordarralle Patterson. The Lions did allow a conversion on Minnesota's only third-and-short rushing play, and Matt Asiata scored Minnesota's only touchdown on a 5-yard run. Linebackers Tahir Whitehead (12 tackles) and Josh Bynes (four tackles) played collectively their best game of the year.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A-minus -- Matt Prater improved to 25 for 25 in his career on game-winning or game-tying kicks in the fourth quarter or overtime with two makes Thursday. He drilled a 48-yarder to tie with 1:45 to play, and a 40-yarder to win it as time expired. Sam Martin didn't have his best day punting, but the Lions held Patterson in check in the return game. Andre Roberts had a quiet day in the return department as well as the Vikings won the field position battle with punter Jeff Locke

COACHING: B -- Jim Caldwell went 1 for 2 on challenges, and took an unnecessary risk on the one he missed. Caldwell tried challenging the spot on the Lions' failed fourth-down conversion attempt when the play appeared too close to overturn. After a sloppy outing against the Jaguars, the Lions came ready to play against Minnesota. They scored on their first offensive possession and came close to forcing a turnover twice on their first defensive drive. The Lions didn't move the ball regularly on offense, but they were aggressive when they needed to be in the fourth quarter.