One day after Brett Maher became the first player in NFL history by missing four extra points, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy threw his support behind the embattled kicker.
“We’re going to forge ahead. As of right now, that’s the plan,” McCarthy told reporters Tuesday following a 31-14 Wild Card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning the Cowboys a Divisional Round clash with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Maher made his final extra-point attempt in the fourth quarter after missing his previous four kicks from 32 yards.
The ex-CFLer only got that chance after McCarthy opted not to attempt a 36-yard field goal on fourth-and-three. Instead, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw a touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb, leading to the successful extra point.
Maher, in his third stint with the Cowboys, was 50-of-53 on extra points during the regular season.
McCarthy said Maher met with special teams coaches on Tuesday to help “make sure he’s ready” for the next playoff game.
“At the end of the day, we all have a job to do. He knows he has to put the ball through the uprights,” McCarthy said. “He’s been super productive and consistent for us. We all work with each other every day. That’s what I believe in. I believe in him and his path.”
“You learn more from your experiences where it doesn’t go way you like as opposed to the success of it,” McCarthy continued. “Just look at our whole football team. We came out of Washington and got punched in the jaw (in the final regular season game) and I think we clearly responded. I think he definitely has that in him.”