Does Brett Maher's performance vs. Buccaneers indicate major issue?
The Cowboys crushed Tampa Bay, 31-14, on Monday night , but Dallas kicker Brett Maher missed four extra-point attempts, an NFL game record per the Elias Sports Bureau.
Is he suffering from the yips?
According to the Mayo Clinic, the yips are involuntary wrist spasms that affect golfers trying to putt. However, they're not limited to one specific muscle group or sport.
The primary cause isn't well defined, but it's tied to the overuse of muscles. High anxiety also worsens the condition. NFL kickers like Maher face both problems.
Maher has had an up-and-down career in Dallas. Per Pro Football Reference, Maher made a career-low 66.7 percent of his field goal attempts in 2019. The Cowboys released him, and he missed the entire 2020 season.
After a solid season in New Orleans, Dallas gave Maher another shot in 2022. He had played well, making nine field goals of more than 50 yards, until the past two games, when he missed five of his last six attempts.
Dallas hasn't won a championship in 26 years. The pressure is on to make a deep playoff run. Mistakes can mount if players aren't focused.
Dallas QB Dak Prescott recently suffered from this problem, throwing an interception in seven consecutive games. Prescott compared his poor play to Maher's in a post-game news conference, saying "it happens."
Re-instilling Maher's confidence is the right move. He's the only kicker on the depth chart.
More must-reads: