Cowboys destroy Jaguars: 6 things we learned from Week Six

#5 – Brett Maher is the real deal

The Cowboys caught a ton of flack for releasing veteran kicker Dan Bailey during final cuts last month and replacing him with 28-year old rookie Brett Maher, a veteran of the CFL. After a near flawless career in Dallas, and being named the most accurate kicker in NFL history at one point, Bailey suffered a groin injury in 2017.

When Bailey returned at the end of the season, the 29-year old didn’t play like himself. He missed five field goals and two extra point attempts in Dallas’ final five games. Bailey had never missed an extra point before in his then seven-year career.

This offseason, Maher was brought in by Dallas as seemingly a place holder for Bailey, who was expected to return to form after an offseason to rehab. But the new kicker impressed the Cowboys coaching staff enough that they decided to part ways with Bailey and his hefty contract, saving themselves $3.5 million by making the move.

Cowboys fans surely had their doubts about Maher, especially after he missed his first and only field goal attempt in Week One against the Carolina Panthers. But since then, Maher has been a perfect 15 of 15 on field goal attempts and 10 for 10 on extra points. Against the Jaguars, Maher hit all four of his field goals including a massive 55-yarder.

As for Bailey, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in mid-September. Cowboys fans got confirmation that Dallas was right to move on from Bailey after he missed two field goals against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Five.