Brett Maher unfazed by early miss, delivers first last-second, game-winning kick

The Dallas Cowboys’ season is only four games old but we’re a long, long way from Brett Maher’s first field goal attempt in the NFL.

Since missing a 45-yard attempt in his NFL debut in Week 1, Maher has made eight consecutive field goals, including a 38-yard, last-second game-winner in Sunday’s 26-24 win over the Detroit Lions.

Maher made four field goals against the Lions, including a long of 43 yards.

Cowboys’ owner and general manager Jerry Jones liked the way Maher was kicking but admitted he was nervous before the game-winner.

“The facts are I was about to swallow my tongue and my eyes would’ve rolled back,” Jones joked. “so I’m glad I wasn’t trying to kick the field goal. I thought it was about as much pressure as you could go on for somebody and he had a big day. He really should be applauded.”

Maher, who kicked several game-winners in the CFL, said the pressure didn’t faze him.

“No, not really at all. I’m happy and excited but I don’t feel any sense of relief or anything like that,” he said. Maher was asked what side he’d prefer to kick from and he chose left but really doesn’t have a strong preference, he said. “It was exciting. It’s fun to be a part of this team. I feel like I’m lucky to be in this locker room and with these guys.”

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said the goal on the final drive was to get as close as they could to the end zone without sabotaging the field goal chance.

“We were going to try to get as close as we could but preserve that field goal opportunity, and [Maher] didn’t blink,” Garrett said. “He drilled it and it looked like it was going to be good from 60. That’s how you want those guys to kick them. Operation was clean and he handled that situation really well.”

With 2:17 left in the game, the Cowboys took over trailing 24-23. They went 55 yards in nine plays to set up Maher’s heroics.

“It was huge, man. The final drive was all about grit, all about who we were as a unit,” Cowboys’ receiver Cole Beasley said. “We wanted to prove what we could do. We’ve had a lot of doubters the last couple of weeks. It was our time to shine and show what we’re made of. And I think we came through.”

This story was originally published September 30, 2018 at 6:13 PM.