Stop us if you've heard this one before: Dallas kicker Brett Maher missed an extra point.
— sportsvids99 (@sportsvids991) January 23, 2023
The Cowboys took an early 6-3 lead over the 49ers on a four-yard Dalton Schultz touchdown reception in the second quarter. That's when Maher added to his horrific postseason with another missed extra point.
To be fair to Maher, this time his kick was blocked. That may have been the best thing for the Cowboys' much-maligned kicker, however, as color commentator Greg Olsen noted the kick looked bad off Maher's foot.
"The ball's gonna miss by 10 feet to the left," said Olsen, noting that from where linebacker Samson Ebukam blocked the attempt, the ball's trajectory appeared to place it on a path going wide left.
Extra point attempts are usually the least exciting play in football but Maher made the largely ceremonial exercise must-see TV the past two weeks.
Maher missed his first four extra points in the Cowboys' 31-14 wild-card route over the Bucs.
The reactions online ranged from people expressing disbelief over Maher's extended nightmare to the questioning of Dallas not going for two after every touchdown.
This is a tough watch for Maher.. that would’ve been hooked left by a mile if it wasn’t blocked. We’ve reached Rick Ankiel territory
— trey wingo (@wingoz) January 23, 2023
"Our kicker had a Knoblauchian meltdown while the rest of a championship-caliber team was humming" would be a new level of playoff hellscape.
— Robert Mays (@robertmays) January 23, 2023
Even for the Cowboys.
Brett Maher is the one true must-watch player in the NFL right now
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) January 23, 2023
Would that kick have been good if it wasn't blocked?
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) January 23, 2023
STOP KICKING EXTRA POINTS JUST GO FOR 2 EVERY TIME THERE’S NO WAY IT CAN BE WORSE
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) January 23, 2023
Per NFL Research, his five misses this postseason are the second-most for any kicker during an entire postseason career.
Brett Maher has now missed 5 extra points over the last 2 playoff games, 2nd-most in a postseason career in NFL history...
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 23, 2023
The only player with more was Roy Gerela in the 1970s, who did so over the course of 15 games.#Cowboysvs49ers
Maher redeemed himself somewhat with a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter to tie the game at nine. He may have been shipped off to Alcatraz Island had he missed that kick.
Luckily for Maher, he still has a roster spot. But at this rate, it's a surprise if he converts on his attempts. That isn't a good place for Maher, or the Cowboys, to be.
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