Dallas Cowboys’ kicker makes unwanted NFL history, Tom Brady’s Bucs eliminated

The Dallas Cowboys knocked Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Bucaneers out of the NFL playoffs but their kicker had a game to forget.

Brett Maher had a nightmare.

The Dallas Cowboys destroyed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all game during their 31-14 rout.

Well, in everything except the actual kicking.

The NY Post reports in the Wild Card game, Dallas kicker Brett Maher became the first player in NFL history to miss four extra points in a playoff game, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

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Midway through the first quarter, Dak Prescott found Dalton Schultz for a 22-yard touchdown and the game’s first points, but Maher subsequently shanked the extra point wide right.

Maher’s nightmare worsened in the second quarter when he missed wide right again after Prescott’s 1-yard touchdown rush.

He decided to shake things up later in the quarter, missing his extra point attempt wide left after Prescott completed an 11-yard TD pass to Schultz.

Brett Maher of the Dallas Cowboys misses an extra point against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Prescott could be seen on the broadcast visibly upset after the third miss, and the Cowboys took an 18-0 lead into halftime instead of a 21-0 advantage.

Prescott appeared to scream “Go for f***ing two” while slamming his helmet on the Dallas sideline — referring to the option of going for a two-point touchdown instead.

As Brett Maher misses an extra point attempt for third time this game, it appears Dak Prescott would like to “go for f***ing two.”pic.twitter.com/5eGyrZ2qSZ

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) January 17, 2023

The missed extra points were perhaps the only blemish on what was an otherwise stellar first half for Dallas.

“Oh my gosh,” Eli Manning said on ESPN’s “Manningcast” after the third miss.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. What’s going on?”

Peyton Manning mirrored Eli’s sentiment.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said. “Why are we kicking it?”

Peyton's reaction to Brett Maher missing a third XP 😭😭pic.twitter.com/MiD0pX4s4W

— Pickswise (@Pickswise) January 17, 2023

The Cowboys scored on their opening drive of the second half, but coach Mike McCarthy didn’t follow Prescott or Peyton Manning’s advice.

Maher missed again, clanking his kick off the right upright for his fourth miss of the day. Finally, Maher hit his first extra point of the game after the Cowboys scored in the fourth quarter, pushing Dallas’ lead to 31-6. But the touchdown — an 18-yard reception by a wide-open CeeDee Lamb, occurred on a 4th-and-four.

McCarthy opted to go for it instead of kicking the field goal.

Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks off the field after losing to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card playoff game. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Dallas was in complete control all game, but they appear to have a crisis at kicker for its next playoff matchup. They next face the 49ers in the NFC Divisional round.

The Bucaneers were elimated from the playoffs, leaving start quarterback Tom Brady’s future with the franchise up in the air.

This article originally appeared in the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Dallas Cowboys’ kicker makes unwanted NFL history, Tom Brady’s Bucs eliminated