Former Cowboys kicker defends team's choice to stick with Brett Maher after missed extra points

Following Cowboys kicker Brett Maher‘s four missed extra point attempts on Monday night and the team’s subsequent decision to stick with him as they head to the divisional round of the playoffs, former Dallas kicker David Buehler weighed in on the situation.

Buehler, who kicked for the Cowboys primarily in 2010, shared on 105.3 The Fan that he expects Maher to return to his consistent ways this Sunday in San Franciso.

“I felt terrible, terrible for him,” Buehler said. “You’re the kicker of the Dallas Cowboys… You have a lot of pressure on you as it is, the playoffs just amplify that pressure… Personally, I think he’s going to be fine this week. I think he’s going to be okay. It’s very hard to snap out of a bad game during the game, I was honestly kind of surprised he made the fifth one. I personally have a lot of confidence in the guy for San Francisco.”

Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel also attributed Maher’s misses to the dreaded yips, but said he expects a “hot hand” (or leg) on Sunday.

“I believe in the hot hand, and I believe in the yips, absolutely,” Fassel said on Tuesday. “And you know, you wonder sometimes how you get into the yips, and you wonder sometimes how you get back into the hot hand. I think it’s keep stepping up to the line and shooting that thing… The yips happen, so I expect a hot hand coming up.”

Buehler: ‘110% confidence’ in Maher

As for the Cowboys’ confidence in Maher, Buehler pointed to his stats throughout the regular season.

“I think people are forgetting how elite of a season this guy had,” Buehler said. “His only misses were two 59-yarders and a 46-yarder. I know people are living in the moment, worried about next week, but the guy has had an elite, stellar, stellar, pro bowl-quality season… I have 110% confidence that he’ll come out versus the 49ers and do well.”

During the regular season, the former Nebraska kicker was 94% on extra points, missing just three, and 90% on field goal attempts. 

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team is potentially bringing in another kicker this week to compete but Maher is still expected to start on Sunday.

Dallas kicks off versus the 49ers on Sunday night at 6:15 ET.