DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions have gone down to the wire in every game this season, so their kicker has been even more important than usual.Matt Prater has come through when theyve needed him.Praters 40-yard field goal on the final play lifted the Lions to a 16-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, putting Detroit alone atop the NFC North. Every game the Lions have played this season has been decided by seven points or fewer, so Prater has had to make decisive kicks on several occasions.I dont think you can ever say anything is automatic, but hes as good as they come in those situations, coach Jim Caldwell said.Praters career was at a crossroads when he joined the Lions in 2014. Detroit was having a hard time finding a dependable kicker after the end of Jason Hansons career, and Prater was available after Denver cut ties with him.Prater had been a standout with the Broncos, but he began that 2014 season on a four-game suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse policy after a positive test for alcohol consumption in the offseason. When he joined the Lions, he said hed voluntarily entered a 12-step program to deal with his alcohol issues.Detroit has been happy to have Prater, who made 21 of 26 field goals during that 2014 season and then went 22 of 24 in 2015. Hes 21 of 24 this season, but that doesnt tell anything close to the whole story.In his career, the 32-year-old Prater has made 18 winning or tying field goals with under 4:00 remaining in the fourth quarter, or in overtime. Six of them have come in 2016.I dont know if Id say ice cold veins, just, you know, I have a lot of confidence in what were doing as far as a unit with guys up front, Prater said. (Don Muhlbach) snapping, Sam (Martin) holding, and I just have confidence where I dont doubt myself.The season nearly began on a sour note for Prater. He missed an extra point with 4:04 remaining in the opener at Indianapolis, and the Colts drove the other way for a touchdown to take a one-point lead in the final minute.Detroit got Prater in position for another chance, though, and his 43-yard field goal with 4 seconds left lifted the Lions to a win.On Oct. 9, Praters 29-yard kick with 1:28 to play helped the Lions to a 24-23 win over Philadelphia. The following weekend, he connected from 34 yards with 1:29 remaining for a 31-28 victory over Los Angeles.Kicks from that distance are routine in the NFL, but on Nov. 6 at Minnesota, the Lions tested Praters range. On the last play of regulation, he made a 58-yarder force overtime. Detroit went on to win 22-16.On Thanksgiving, Prater was under pressure again, and he came through. His 48-yard field goal with 1:45 to play tied the game at 13. Then, after the Lions (7-4) intercepted a pass, he calmly kicked the winner.Basically have the same mindset as an extra point in the first quarter, where I dont go out and ever expect that Im not going to make the kick, Prater said. Maybe Ive been a little luckier, maybe? In the final two minutes of games in tying or winning kicks -- but its just, I try not to overanalyze it too much and hope the most important kick is always the next one.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL .---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Cheap NFL Jerseys . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Cheap Football Jerseys .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. http://www.nflcheapjerseysfreeshipping.com/ . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Authentic NFL Jerseys China . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. 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Our players are ready to start that phase and lead it with their colleagues from the NBA and if there are folks from other sports franchises that want to participate well welcome that as well.Borders didnt give a timetable of when the plan would be implemented. The league had fined three teams and their players last month for wearing shirts to show solidarity after shootings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The fines were later rescinded a few days later, right before the Olympic break.I think it would be great. Anything would be great, said Liberty center Tina Charles. Its embarrassing that it got to the point that it got to. The fact that president Lisa Borders is willing to take the next step forward, its not about keeping the players happy. Its because you need to show your support in what your players need. Were happy and thrilled that something will get done.Charles hadd been one of the most outspoken WNBA players in support of the movement.dddddddddddd She wore her warmup shirt inside-out in the Libertys last game before the Olympic break even after the teams had been fined.Shes a young woman that has a strong voice, a compelling voice and shes found that voice and is using it in a very constructive way and I am proud of her and I told her that, Borders said. If you call that clearing the air, this is the commissioner saying you go girl. Im very happy with her and for her.Tamika Catchings, who is president of the players association, attended and spoke at the Los Angeles meeting. She said that she and Pacers star Paul George came away from that event planning on doing their own community conversation in Indianapolis. She welcomed Borders idea as a positive move.Its a great step forward. Great that we can come together and do it united and have a united front that we always talk about, Catchings said.Despite the contentiousness before the break, Borders was proud of the players for taking a stance.Any movement in modern history has started with young people, she said. This was no exception. Im a child of the civil rights movement. ... There are issues in the world today in our country that we need to deal with. Our players felt the need to speak up and I think thats a good thing.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '