If the Dallas Cowboys had one big problem during the first half of their opener in Tampa on Thursday night, it was definitely their kicking game. Cowboys kicker Greg Zuerlein missed two field goals and an extra point during a first half that ended with Dallas trailing Tampa Bay 21-16.
For Zuerlein, the trouble started in the second quarter. After the Cowboys drove down to Tampa Bay’s 13-yard line, Mike McCarthy had a decision to make with his team facing fourth-and-3. At that point in the game, the Cowboys were trailing just 14-7, so McCarthy decided to send his kicker out for a 31-yard field goal attempt, a kick that is shorter than an extra point.
McCarthy probably regretted his decision almost immediately after Zuerlein got off an ugly kick that missed way to the left.
To put into perspective how rare it is to miss a kick from that range: Nine kickers missed a field goal of 31 yards or less in 2020 and six of those nine aren’t on an active roster heading into Week 1 of this year.
Fortunately for the Zuerlein , the missed field goal actually ended up working out for Dallas because the Buccaneers ended up turning the ball over one play later when Ronald Jones lost a fumble.
Five plays after the fumble, the Cowboys capitalized on the turnover when Dak Prescott hit Amari Cooper for a 5-yard touchdown. However, the TD celebration was short-lived because Zuerlein missed the extra point (It hit off the left upright) that left the Cowboys trailing 14-13.
At that point, NBC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya noted that she talked to Zuerlein before the game and that “he didn’t seem that confident,” which ended up being a sign of things to come for the Cowboys.
At the end of the half, Zuerlein also missed a 60-yard attempt, but considering there was only one successful field goal of 60 yards or more in the entire NFL last offseason, it wasn’t a huge shock that Zuerlein missed the kick. Overall, he he went 1 of 3 on field goals in the first half and 1 of 2 on extra points.
The game against the Buccaneers was just the second game that Zuerlein played in this year, including the preseason. Due to offseason back surgery, the kicker missed the Cowboys’ first three preseason games and ended up only playing in their preseason finale.
