Cardinals try 2 holders as Matt Prater misses 2 FGs, 1 PAT in loss to Colts

The Arizona Cardinals’ struggles in primetime at home continued on Saturday night at State Farm Stadium.

In a 22-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Christmas Day, the Cardinals failed to execute when it came to scoring points in the kicking game.

Arizona kicker Matt Prater missed two field goals and one PAT on the day, only converting on one of his two point-after tries.

Prater’s misses came from 51 yards out on the game’s opening drive and on a 41-yarder on the Cardinals’ first possession of the fourth quarter.

However, coming into the contest, usual holder and punter Andy Lee was placed on the reserve/COVID on Wednesday and did not play against the Colts.

Backup quarterback Colt McCoy began the game as the holder on Prater’s first field goal miss and PAT shank.

“I’ll have to watch the tape,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury said postgame. “Obviously, we had a different holder in with Andy on the COVID list, but I have to see the operation and what happened there.”

Former Cardinals kicker Jay Feely offered his expertise on the placement of the football by McCoy:

Even worse hold by McCoy.
Laces straight sideways and ball leaning left (worst miss for Rt footed kicker) on that missed PAT
Teams don’t spend enough time practicing with backup holders, especially QBs

— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) December 26, 2021

Punter Ryan Winslow — who was signed to the Cardinals practice squad on Thursday and elevated to the active roster on Saturday — came in for the PAT Prater did make.

And despite having a better hold for Prater on his penultimate field goal attempt in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals kicker was denied by the right upright.

The Cardinals kicker did convert on a chip-shot 28-yarder late in the fourth quarter to give Arizona a chance at a Hail Mary with less than a minute to go in the game.

Winslow was the holder for the final points of the contest.

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