Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brett Maher (19) misses a point after touchdown kick in the first half during the wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Cowboys reportedly sticking with Maher at kicker despite historically bad playoff performance
Cowboys’ kicker Brett Maher put up quite possibly the worst playoff performance by a kicker in the history of the NFL. He missed four straight extra points until finally making his fifth one. With that said, Dallas reportedly has no plans to move off him this season.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cowboys will roll with Maher at kicker against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. Despite the terrible performance, this does not come as a surprise, especially in the Cowboys’ building. Dak Prescott immediately expressed his confidence in Maher after Monday’s win.
“I’m Money Maher’s biggest fan,” Prescott said during the postgame press conference. “I talked to him individually after the game and told him, ‘Let that go.’ We’re going to need him. I played like (expletive) a week ago. That happens. When you believe in each other and believe in what we’re capable of, knowing what that guy has done and the resiliency he’s shown throughout his career, no doubt he’ll come back next week and help us win.”
The Dallas coaching staff has emphasized how confident they are in Maher and how important it is to get him right before they head to San Francisco.
“I think the biggest thing is just to make sure you got a good plan with Brett moving forward. Just make sure he’s ready,” head coach Mike McCarthy said.
“At the end of the day, we all have a job to do. He knows he has to put the ball through the uprights. And he’s been super productive and consistent for us,” McCarthy exclaimed. “I think so much in this business, especially this game, you learn from your experiences when it doesn’t go the way you like, as opposed to the success of it. So just like our whole football team, we came out of Washington and got punched in the jaw, and I think we clearly responded. I think he definitely has that in him.”
Maher has had a phenomenal year in his second go-round as the Cowboys’ kicker. Maher has made 29 of 32 field goal attempts over the course of the season missing just two 59-yarders and a 46-yard attempt. He has also made 50 of 53 extra point attempts this season, making what he did on Monday night very unprecedented.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Cowboys have signed kicker Tristan Vizcaino to their practice squad. Maher is expected to remain the kicker for Sunday, but now Dallas has insurance for the position with Vizcaino. Vizcaino has made 11 of 12 field goals in his career and is 10 of 15 on extra points. He has played for four teams in just three seasons.