Cowboys sticking with Brett Maher despite extra-point struggles

Last updated: 2023/01/18 at 8:52 PM

BigP Published January 18, 2023

The Dallas Cowboys plan to stick with starting kicker Brett Maher in their divisional round playoff game at the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, head coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday.

Maher missed four extra-point attempts in the Cowboys’ wild-card round win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night. He finally hit his fifth try in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys’ 31-14 victory.

It was the first time in NFL history — since at least 1948 — that a kicker had missed four extra-point attempts in the same regular season or playoff game.

[NFL odds: Cowboys’ Brett Maher’s missed extra points costs Over bettors]

Maher had missed just three extra-point attempts throughout the 2022 regular season, two of which were blocked. His struggles quickly went viral on social media, especially after Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott was seen visibly frustrated on the sidelines after Maher’s third miss.

Dallas Cowboys’ Brett Maher had the yips on Monday

After Monday’s NFL playoff game, Ben Verlander said that the Cowboys’ Brett Maher had the yips after he missed four extra-points.

But Prescott voiced support for his teammate after the game, as did McCarthy and Cowboys special teams coach John Fassell.

“I’m Money Maher’s biggest fan,” Prescott said Monday. “I told him after the game, ‘Hey, let that go, we’re going to need [you].’ I played like s— a week ago. Knowing what that guy’s done, the resiliency he’s shown throughout his career, personally, [I have] no doubt that he’ll come back next week and be perfect and help us win.”

The Cowboys did sign kicker Tristan Vizcaino to their practice squad Wednesday as insurance if Maher’s struggles continue, per multiple reports, but Maher is still expected to start Sunday.

The Cowboys and 49ers are scheduled to kick off from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX and the FOX Sports App.

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