The Denver Broncos have been riding the high of a five-game winning streak, but that wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of November’s AFC Special Teams Player of the Month.
On Thursday, it was announced that Broncos’ kicker Wil Lutz was named the NFL’s AFC Special Teams Player of the Month after his clutch performance in the month of November.
In three November games, Lutz was 11-of-11 on field goals made and attempted and 3-of-4 on extra point attempts made and attempted. He was crucial in Denver’s 21-20 win against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football just two weeks ago, making a career-high five field goals.
Without his contributions, Denver wouldn’t be on a five-game winning streak and back into the playoff conversation after the team’s disastrous 1-5 start.
According to the team’s official press release:
“Lutz is the ninth different Bronco—and fifth kicker—to win the award. He joins McManus (2015), Connor Barth (2014), Matt Prater (2011, ‘09) and Jason Elam (2001) as the only kickers in franchise history to collect the honor.”
During the preseason, Broncos head coach Sean Payton decided to trade for Lutz while he was under contract and in competition in New Orleans for their starting kicker job with Blake Grupe.
Lutz’s Broncos debut didn’t go quite as planned in Week 1 after he missed a field goal and extra point attempt in Denver’s season-opening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, but from that point forward, he’s had a drastic turnaround. His only other miss this season came in Week 8 in the Broncos’ 24-9 win against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Houston Texans, Lutz has gone 24-of-26 this season on field goal attempts, including 8-of-8 from 20-29 yards, 10-of-11 from 30-39 yards, 3-of-3 from 40-49 yards, and 3-of-4 from 50-59 yards, according to Pro Football Reference.
Lutz has earned the nickname ‘Big Deal Wil’ from Broncos fans, and November’s award is a very big deal.