Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher missed four field goal attempts in the team’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL Wild Card Playoffs last week.
For one of the game’s best kickers, this isn’t what he had planned to open the playoffs. In fact, it led to Dallas signing veteran Tristan Vizcaino to the practice squad.
Despite this, Maher was active for Sunday’s NFL Divisional Playoff game against the favored San Francisco 49ers.
After Dak Prescott hit Dalton Schultz for a touchdown to give Dallas a 6-3 lead in the second quarter, Brett Maher took to the field for a field goal attempt. It did not go too swimmingly.
Even if that kick wasn’t blocked, it would have sailed wide left by a good 10 feet or more. Talk about having a case of the yips.
Per the NFL, Maher has tied former Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Roy Gerela for the most extra-point misses in NFL Playoff history. Gerela did it in 15 games. Maher? Less than six quarters. He’s also the first kicker in league history to miss five consecutive extra-point attempts.
Brett Maher’s struggles could also have an impact in this game. Dallas went for it on fourth and short prior to scoring that initial touchdown.