The Dallas Cowboys secured a razor-thin victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, but the win did little to alleviate growing anxiety regarding kicker Brandon Aubrey. Despite trailing 23-20 late in the fourth quarter, Dallas managed to score a go-ahead touchdown, yet the team’s reliance on Aubrey’s long-range accuracy remains a critical vulnerability. The Cowboys’ narrow escape highlighted how a single miss can swing momentum, leaving fans and analysts questioning whether the unit can trust its kicker in high-pressure, long-distance scenarios.
A missed 50-yarder and rising long-range struggles cast a shadow over Dallas’s kicker
Aubrey’s 50-yard attempt, which would have simplified the game’s final minutes, sailed wide, marking his 24th attempt from 50+ yards since the start of last season. This miss officially pushed his total long-range failures into double digits, a statistic that demands scrutiny. The failed kick gifted the Colts possession at the Dallas 40-yard line, allowing Indianapolis to easily convert a field goal to take the 23-20 lead. This sequence underscores the inherent risk of attempting kicks from such distance; what was once considered Aubrey’s specialty is now a high-probability gamble that frequently backfires.
Contextualizing the data reveals a more nuanced picture, as eight of the 24 long-range attempts have come from 60+ yards, a distance where success rates naturally plummet. However, half of Aubrey’s overall misses from 50+ yards stem from these extreme 60+ yard attempts, suggesting that his struggles are not limited to the most difficult kicks. For the Cowboys, the takeaway is clear: while the 60+ yard attempts skew the overall percentage, the inability to convert standard 50-yarders in critical moments is a concerning trend that could jeopardize future tight contests.
Source: Yahoo Sports
