WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — His kicking groove goes back to the start of the 2024 calendar year.
Recognition didn’t come until Wednesday when the NFL announced Denver Broncos placekicker Wil Lutz as the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week.
Lutz was 4 of 4 in field goals – from distances of 43, 33, 38 and 43 yards – and 2 of 2 in 33-yard extra points to score 14 points in the Broncos’ 26-7 win Sunday at Tampa Bay. Lutz was true despite sketchy field conditions at Raymond James Stadium. A college football game between Miami and South Florida was played Saturday night at Raymond James and about 13 hours later the Broncos and Bucs kicked off.
Lutz has not missed a kick since Dec. 31, 2023, the second-to-last game of the Broncos’ season when he didn’t convert a 48 yard field goal as halftime expired. He still kicked three field goals in that 16-9 Broncos win against the Chargers.
Lutz made his two extra points in the Broncos’ 2023 final game loss at Las Vegas on Jan. 7, then went 5 of 5 in field goals and 12 of 12 in extra points during the Broncos three 2024 preseason games. Through three games in the regular season, Lutz has gone 9 of 9 in field goals and 3 of 3 in extra points.
Lutz is the first Broncos' player to receive the Player of Week honor this season.
