The Dallas Cowboys will keep kicker Brett Maher at the position despite his struggles in the team’s Wild Card matchup. In the team’s 31-14 Wild Card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Maher missed an NFL record four straight extra point attempts. Speculation from NFL experts suspected the team would look to make a move at the position ahead of the Divisional Round, but Dallas is sticking with their kicker for the matchup. Despite the four extra point misses, the Cowboys had the game well in hand for the majority of the game against Tampa Bay.
Dak Prescott sticks up for Brett Maher:
“I’m Money Maher’s biggest fan… I just played like s— a week ago”
?: @CBSSportsHQ pic.twitter.com/SZqINWv1FB
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 17, 2023
Despite the issues in the game against Tampa Bay, Brett Maher had an excellent season for the Dallas Cowboys this season. He made 29 of his 32 field goal attempts and made 50 of his 53 extra-point attempts in the regular season. This means Maher missed more extra point attempts in the Wild Card round than he did in the entire regular season this year.
Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel said the following about the decision to keep Brett Maher as the starting kicker: “I believe in the hot hand, and I believe in the yips, absolutely, and you know, you wonder sometimes how you get into the yips, and you wonder sometimes how you get back into the hot hand. I think it’s keep stepping up to the line and shooting that thing. We missed a couple of free throws Monday. He had a hot hand. Let’s face it, he only missed six kicks all season. The yips happen, so I expect a hot hand coming up.”
The Dallas Cowboys are set to take on the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. EST.
