NFL notes: Prater sets mark with 64-yarder
Denver kicker Matt Prater kicked an NFL-record 64-yard field goal as the first half expired in the Broncos’ game against Tennessee on Sunday.
Prater’s kick on a clear day in 14-degree weather with nary a hint of wind barely cleared the crossbar. He and holder Britton Colquitt jumped in jubilation as their teammates rushed into the tunnel for halftime.
The record-breaking kick cut Tennessee’s lead to 21-20.
The 64-yarder bested the record of 63 set by New Orleans’ Tom Dempsey in 1970 and tied by Denver’s Jason Elam in 1998, Oakland’s Sabastian Janikowski in 2011 and San Francisco’s David Akers last season.
Janikowski’s and Elam’s kicks also came in Denver’s thin air.
90 touchdowns sets record
The NFL set a single-day record for touchdowns when the New Orleans Saints scored three times in the first half of Sunday night’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
Drew Brees found tight end Jimmy Graham for a 5-yard score right before halftime for his third TD pass, making it 88 touchdowns on a wild day across the league. Two second-half touchdowns – one each for the Saints and Panthers – pushed Sunday’s total to 90. The previous record was 87 in Week 17 of the 2012 season on Dec. 30, according to STATS LLC.
A slew of high-scoring afternoon games set the stage for Brees’ record breaker, including the Bengals and Colts combining for 10 TDs.
Sunday’s scores
| San Francisco 19, Seattle 17 |
| Arizona 30, St. Louis 10 |
| Cincinnati 42, Indianapolis 28 |
| Green Bay 22, Atlanta 21 |
| New England 27, Cleveland 26 |
| N.Y. Jets 37, Oakland 27 |
| Philadelphia 34, Detroit 20 |
| Miami 34, Pittsburgh 28 |
| Tampa Bay 27, Buffalo 6 |
| Kansas City 45, Washington 10 |
| Baltimore 29, Minnesota 26 |
| Denver 51, Tennessee 28 |
| San Diego 37, N.Y. Giants 14 |
| New Orleans 31, Carolina 13 |
NFL report, B6-7