Castoff Maher kicks Cowboys to victory

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Tony Gutierrez/AP/Shutterstock (13400507af) Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brett Maher (19) kicks a game winning field goal as punter Bryan Anger (5) holds during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, in Arlington, Tx Bengals Cowboys Football, Arlington, United States – 18 Sep 2022

Castoff Maher kicks Cowboys to victory

Brett Maher wasn’t even on the Cowboys roster until late in the preseason.

Just a few weeks later and Maher boots the Cowboys to their first victory of the 2022 season — a 50-yard field goal as time expired at AT&T Stadium to send the Bengals back to Cincinnati with a 20-17 loss.

“Every opportunity is rewarding,” Maher said after the game. “I am happy to do my part with this group. The guys in the locker room are awesome. This whole game was a ton of fun to be a part of. This locker room is a ton of fun to be a part of. So, I am embracing the ride and doing my part.”

His part so far has been three field goals, all over 50 yards, in three tries and both extra points in the two games this season.

Earlier in the game against Cincinnati, Maher connected on a 54-yard field goal with just a few seconds to go in the second quarter to extend the Cowboys lead to 14 heading into halftime.

“I am so happy for Brett,” said head coach Mike McCarthy after the win. “He gets to come back home here and kick the game-winner. So, we actually gave him the game ball here in the locker room. So, excellent team win.”

The Cowboys weren’t expecting Maher to even be on the roster this season when the team headed for training camp in California.

But kickers Jonathan Garibay and Lirim Hajrullahu did nothing to impress the coaching staff, so with just a few days left before the season opener, the Cowboys signed Maher and released Garibay.

During those final days, Maher beat out Hajrullahu for the job, earning a second stint with the Cowboys.

“This is just a really fun group to be a part of,” Maher said. “That whole last sequence was awesome – Brian (Anger) pinning them deep with the punt, the defense getting the stop, getting a good punt return, and then getting in position and coming through. So, that was a very fun moment to be a part of.”

Maher, the Cowboys kicker from 2018 to 2019, came on after quarterback Cooper Rush used the final minute to lead the Cowboys to the Cincinnati 32 and kicked the Cowboys to victory.

“It was just a great sequence of team football that really pulled together well for us,” Maher said.

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