The Cowboys are about to step out of football.
In Sunday’s NFC Divisional Round game against the 49ers, Dallas made the decision to avoid a long field goal attempt, which could soon lead them to avoid the next point try.
In the first half, the Cowboys attempted two conversions on 4th down rather than settling for a field goal despite the risk of flipping the ball over on downs. The Cowboys had two successes, with 4-and-1 4-yard passes on the final touchdown-scoring drive and a 4-and-4 conversion on the drive that later became an interception.
Why are the Cowboys avoiding trotting kickers? Here’s what you need to know.
MORE: Follow 49ers vs. Cowboys Live Scores, Updates & Highlights
Why the Cowboys want a 4-down, 2-point conversion
Brett Maher appears to have a case of Yips. A serious case of yips.
Brett Maher missed an NFL record after scoring a four-point try in a wild-card victory over the Buccaneers, eventually scoring his fifth try in a 31-14 win. I’m back again.
Maher’s PAT was blocked by the 49ers after the Cowboys scored their first touchdown of the game. But a close-up shot of the kick also made it look like his try would have gone wide to the left had the ball not been deflected by Samson Evkam.
of @49ers Block extra points!
📺: #DALvsSF at FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/WBXF8YHjXz pic.twitter.com/VZmmAkZASN—NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2023
According to Fox Sports’ Tom Rinaldi, director Mike McCarthy said, “He has to do better.”
MORE: 49ers prevent Cowboys’ Brett Maher from kicking field goal in warmup
If Maher struggles to make a PAT, he’ll have a hard time kicking from most other ranges as well. The PAT is from his 33 yards out, with a change in 2015. In NFL history, he has a 95% success rate on kicks from 33 yards out to be exact. According to Stathead, since the rule change took place, the team combined has succeeded in his 93.9% of his PATs, but only his 48.2% of his 2-point conversions.
The Cowboys went 4 down twice in the first half. The first try was his 4-1 at the 49ers 19, and the second was 4-4 at the San Francisco 35. Since 2013, he’s done 65.5% of the time with 4s and 1s, and 46.4% with 4s and 4s, according to The Sporting News analysis. Based on the expected point value, the model recommended it on both trials.
Dallas eventually trusted Maher to kick a field goal and sent him out with the fourth goal off the 49ers 7 for a 25-yard attempt. However, even being there, the model would have recommended it given that a touchdown could add points. However, the Cowboys he settled in a draw at 9:00.
Confidence in Maher will be a major focus of the rest of Dallas’ postseason run, as the team needs a kicker to swing the yips if the Cowboys want a chance at a Super Bowl appearance.
