ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Matt Prater hasn't lost his sense of humor — and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan hasn't lost his faith in his slumping kicker.

Prater is a perfect 5-for-5 beyond 50 yards but just 4-of-10 on field goal attempts between 40 and 49 yards and hasn't been the same kicker over the second half of the season.

"Maybe I should ask next time if we go out for a 48, 'Do you mind if we back it up three yards?'" Prater cracked Monday, a day after missing a 47-yarder in a loss at Carolina.

Prater's slump is no laughing matter, however, as the Broncos (8-6) seek to clinch a playoff spot this weekend. Since making 14 of his first 15 attempts — and making sure no one missed Jason Elam — Prater has missed seven of his last 15 tries.

If you think he's on thin ice, think again.

Shanahan said he still has faith that his kicker will rediscover his touch.

"Yeah, hopefully he works through it. He started off so good and I think Jason Elam his first year was 25-for-35, if I remember right," Shanahan said. "And so some guys work through some tough times, tough scenarios, so hopefully he can get back on track."

Actually, Elam was 26-for-35 in 1993, but he went on to have a standout career in Denver that ended last spring when the Broncos chose to go in a new direction with Prater, who also handles kickoffs. Elam signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

Shanahan doesn't know what the problem is with Prater and doesn't want to. That's the job of special teams coach Scott O'Brien.

"I'm not smart enough to figure that out. It's kind of like a golf swing, I can't figure that out, that's why I'm so lousy," Shanahan said. "But the one thing you look for in those kickers is that consistent swing with their leg, regardless of it's a 55, 60-yarder or an extra point, they've got that timing.

"Sometimes when guys are a little younger and they miss, they push on themselves and they change their alignment, change their swing and all of a sudden everybody's down on them, the players, the town, and they've got to fight through it. So, that's the nature of being a kicker."

All season Prater has steadfastly insisted he wouldn't change what he thought was a perfect approach and motion, but on Monday, he told The Associated Press he thinks he might have found the culprit in his inconsistency.

"I think I'm at the point now where I need to start tweaking a few minor things. I've noticed, O'Brien actually pointed out, when I get set, I'm kind of moving my front foot a little bit," Prater said. "Pulling my plant leg. Just little minor things, you've got to work with the coaches. They know a lot more than I know."

Prater said he appreciates Shanahan's faith that he'll work things out.

"You always have to think positive, so I hope he's patient with me so I keep my job as long as I can," Prater said. "Coach OBrien said everybody goes through their ups and downs, the veterans are the ones that have been through it and know how to bounce back. So ... hopefully I'll bounce out of it."

Prater said he's been hearing it from the fans, some of whom remind him that Elam, by the way, is having a good year in Atlanta, having missed just twice in 29 attempts and going 10-for-10 between 40 and 49 yards.

"There's going to be people that have your back and people that don't," he said. "That's part of the business."

Outside of his 40-49-yard bugaboo, Prater has made 18 of 20 field goals, and it's not like he's missing by much. Of his eight misses, all but one have been by mere inches.

"Counts the same as a shank, though," Prater said. "You hit the pole and it looks pretty, but it counts the same as if it got blocked."