Matt Prater struggled against the Colts on Christmas night.
A week later, the Cardinals kicker made up for it and did it so well, he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Wednesday morning.
In the Cardinals' 25-22 win over the Cowboys in Dallas, Prater scored 13 points and converted all five of his kicks -- four field goals and an extra point. One of his field goals came from 53 yards out, setting a season franchise record with his seventh field goal from at least 50 yards this season.
Prater now has 66 field goals of at least 50 yards in his career, extending his own NFL record. He has a team-leading 125 points this season, with 27 field goals and 44 extra points.
Again the Colts, with normal holder Andy Lee out with Covid, Prater missed an extra point and two field goals in a six-point loss. Lee returned against the Cowboys and the kicking operation -- with long snapper Aaron Brewer -- was perfect.
It is the second time Prater has earned the POW award this season, having earned it Week 6 after a 13-point game in Cleveland.
The Cardinals have been awarded a Player of the Week award seven times this season. Linebacker Chandler Jones also has won it twice, in Week 1 and Week 11. Quarterback Kyler Murray won for Week 2, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. won for Week 3 and linebacker Jordan Hicks earned it in Week 13.
