Broncos K Wil Lutz Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month
It was a November to remember for the white-hot Denver Broncos and veteran kicker Wil Lutz, who was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, the team announced Thursday.
Instrumental to the team's five-game winning streak, Lutz connected on 11-of-11 field goal tries, including the game-sealer over Buffalo in Week 10 and a season-long 52-yarder against the Vikings in Week 11 — one of five FGs in a narrow 21-20 victory.
“We were pleased. He got the game ball on special teams—deservedly so," Broncos head coach Sean Payton said afterward. "Obviously, all five of those were necessary and that was good to see. We needed it. We needed it.”
Acquired via trade in August, reuniting with Payton and succeeding former longtime kicker Brandon McManus, Lutz began his tenure on shaky ground, missing both a FG and XP in the Broncos' season-opening 17-16 loss to the Raiders.
But, much like the rest of the 6-5 club, he's been money since.
Entering Week 13, Lutz has converted 24-of-26 kicks (92.3%) and 18-of-20 point-afters (90%). The eighth-year pro leads the Broncos in scoring, accounting for 8.2 points per game, and is tied for second in the NFL in FGs made from 30-39 yards.
"He’s done a great job. [I’m] really looking forward to that continuing," special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica said on Oct. 26, foreshadowing what was to come.
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