Why Bills' RB Ray Davis was kicker on onside kick, not Matt Prater

Contributing Writer
Why Bills' RB Ray Davis was kicker on onside kick, not Matt Prater image

The Buffalo Bills needed to recover an onside kick on Sunday to stay alive against the Miami Dolphins.

They didn't put in their usual kicker, though. 

Instead, running back Ray Davis did the kicking as Matt Prater watched from the sideline.

It actually makes a lot of sense.

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Why did Ray Davis do Bills' onside kick?

The Bills used Davis instead of Prater presumably for athletic reasons.

Davis is bigger, stronger and faster than Prater.

The Bills drew up the straight directional onside kick, and so having Davis to chase it and try to get on the football after 10 yards made a lot of sense.

It didn't work, as Cedrick Wilson attacked the football and covered it up for the Dolphins.

But even as the announcers questioned it a bit, it was logical to try Davis.

The bouncing kicks toward the sidelines that regular kickers often do don't often work.

This was at least a chance at something different. The Bills tried to let some of their best athletes make a play. That was worth a try.

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