Bills’ Kicking Carousel Nears Stability as Prater Eyes Return
With the playoffs locked in and the holiday lights still twinkling across Buffalo, the Bills are turning their attention to a less glamorous - but still critical - part of the game: special teams. Specifically, the kicking game, which has been a revolving door this season due to injuries.
Tyler Bass, the team’s usual go-to kicker, has been sidelined for the year with a hip/groin injury that required surgery. That opened the door for veteran Matt Prater, who stepped in and delivered the kind of steady performance you’d expect from a kicker in his 19th NFL season. But even Prater hasn’t been immune to the injury bug, missing last week’s game with a quad issue.
Enter Michael Badgley - a name NFL fans might recognize from his stints with the Chargers, Colts, and Lions. The journeyman was called up for duty against the Browns, and while he didn’t light up the box score, he did enough to help the Bills stay ahead. Badgley connected on a field goal and made most of his extra points, doing just enough to keep Buffalo’s offense on schedule.
But here’s the thing: “just enough” might not be enough for a team with postseason aspirations. And with Prater reportedly improving, according to head coach Sean McDermott, it looks like the Bills are getting ready to hand the reins back to their more reliable option sooner rather than later.
Badgley’s Brief Window
Badgley’s audition was always going to be a short one, and unfortunately for him, it didn’t do much to change the narrative. His inconsistencies - the same ones that led to his release from Indianapolis earlier this season - resurfaced in his Bills debut.
The most glaring moment came after his second extra point attempt. As CBS’s Ian Eagle reminded viewers of Badgley’s recent struggles, the kicker promptly pushed the PAT wide right - a moment that felt like it belonged more in a blooper reel than a playoff push. Later, a kickoff that failed to reach the intended landing zone added another blemish to his outing.
Even more telling? The Bills’ decision-making late in the game.
Early in the fourth quarter, facing a 4th-and-4 with a chance to go up by two scores, Buffalo kept Badgley on the sideline and went for it instead of attempting a 50-yard field goal. That kind of call says a lot about where the coaching staff’s confidence level was.
The Veteran Steadying the Ship
Matt Prater’s return can’t come soon enough for Buffalo. The 39-year-old has been rock-solid since stepping in for Bass, hitting 18 of 20 field goals this season, including a long of 62 yards. He’s also converted 43 of 46 PATs - a level of consistency that’s hard to find, especially this late in the season.
There’s no official word yet on whether Prater will be ready for Week 17 against the Eagles, but the signs are pointing in that direction. And if he’s not quite ready, Badgley may get one more shot to prove he still belongs in this league - whether it’s in Buffalo or somewhere else in 2026.
For now, the Bills are hoping their kicking situation stabilizes just in time for the postseason. Because come January, every point matters - and the margin for error gets razor-thin.