It seems like a lifetime ago when the Dallas Cowboys, 33-13 winners on Sunday night over the visiting Eagles, had a kicking concern in the offseason.
After parting ways with Brett Maher following a disastrous playoff performance, the Cowboys were in desperate need of a replacement kicker. Enter Brandon Aubrey, a former college soccer player at Notre Dame who made a name for himself with the USFL's Birmingham Stallions. The Cowboys decided to give Aubrey his first shot at the NFL level this offseason, and oh boy, that decision has paid off big time.
"Going back three years and working as a software engineer and just grinding away in my off time,'' said Aubrey, reflecting on his journey to the NFL. "This is my wildest dreams and they’ve come true and I’m just trying to keep going.''
The 28-year-old hasn't just been great by rookie standards, he's been arguably the best kicker in the entire league. Coming into Sunday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Aubrey was a perfect 26-for-26 on field goals and 36-for-39 on extra points. Already, Aubrey had shattered the record for the most field goals made to start a career and then some.
To add onto his fantastic season, Aubrey had arguably his best game yet on Sunday. Not only was he perfect on the night, making all four field goals and three extra points, but those field goals came from 45, 50, 59 and 60 yards out. According to Cowboys PR, Aubrey is the first kicker in NFL history to make two field goals of 59 yards or more in the same game.
"He's 'Butter,'' QB Dak Prescott said of his rookie pal, repeating the nickname the quarterback has bestowed on the kid from McKinney because he's so smooth.
As an added bonus, Aubrey is now up to seven field goals of at least 50 yards, setting the single-season franchise record for a rookie.
Aubrey, who grew up in the Dallas area, has proven to be the epitome of a diamond in the rough for the Cowboys. It's only fitting that on the defining night of the Cowboys' season so far, Aubrey would have his most-impressive game yet.
Is he surprising himself?
"Not really,'' Aubrey said frankly. "Just taking it one kick at a time and I know I can make any of the kicks they’ve asked me to do. To go out there and make it is just something I expect myself to do at this point.''
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