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If the Dallas Cowboys had one large downside throughout the first half of their opener in Tampa on Thursday night time, it was undoubtedly their kicking sport. Cowboys kicker Greg Zuerlein missed two area objectives and an additional level and each a type of misses ended up being expensive in a sport the Cowboys would ultimately lose 31-29.
Zuerlein did hit one clutch kick, which got here within the fourth quarter. With the Cowboys trailing 28-26, Dak Prescott drove his staff into Tampa Bay territory earlier than the drive ended up stalling on the Buccaneers’ 30-yard line. With the Cowboys going through a fourth-and-6, Mike McCarthy had two choices: Go for the primary down or ship out Zuerlein, who went 1 of three on area objectives within the first half.
McCarthy elected to attempt the kick and his religion in Zuerlein paid off when his kicker drilled a 48-yarder.
It was fairly the redeeming kick for Zuerlein, who had an unsightly first half.
For Zuerlein, the difficulty began within the second quarter. After the Cowboys drove all the way down to Tampa Bay’s 13-yard line, McCarthy had a call to make along with his staff going through fourth-and-3. At that time within the sport, the Cowboys had been trailing simply 14-7, so McCarthy determined to ship his kicker out for a 31-yard area objective try, a kick that is shorter than an additional level.
McCarthy in all probability regretted his determination virtually instantly after Zuerlein obtained off an unsightly kick that missed strategy to the left.
To place into perspective how uncommon it’s to overlook a kick from that vary: NFL kickers hit 96.3% of their kicks from that vary in 2020 (Solely 9 kickers missed a area objective of 31 yards or much less in 2020 and 6 of these 9 aren’t on an energetic roster heading into Week 1 of this yr).
Thankfully for the Zuerlein , the missed area objective really ended up understanding for Dallas as a result of the Buccaneers ended up turning the ball over one play later when Ronald Jones misplaced a fumble.
5 performs after the fumble, the Cowboys capitalized on the turnover when Prescott hit Amari Cooper for a 5-yard landing. Nevertheless, the TD celebration was short-lived as a result of Zuerlein missed the additional level (It hit off the left upright) and the Cowboys had been left trailing 14-13.
At that time, NBC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya famous that she talked to Zuerlein earlier than the sport and that “he did not appear that assured,” which isn’t one thing you wish to hear about your kicker.
On the finish of the half, Zuerlein additionally missed a 60-yard try, however contemplating there was just one profitable area objective of 60 yards or extra in your entire NFL final offseason, it wasn’t an enormous shock that Zuerlein missed the kick. Total, he he went 1 of three on area objectives within the first half and 1 of two on additional factors.
The sport in opposition to the Buccaneers was simply the second sport that Zuerlein performed on this yr, together with the preseason. Resulting from offseason again surgical procedure, the kicker missed the Cowboys’ first three preseason video games and ended up solely enjoying of their preseason finale.
The truth that he made a 48-yard area objective may find yourself being sufficient to avoid wasting his job, however do not be shocked if the Cowboys usher in a number of kickers this week. The actual fact of that matter is that Zuerlein left 4 straightforward factors on the board — along with his missed 31-yarder and the missed additional level — and in a sport that was determined by two factors, he’ll in all probability be kicking himself for his efficiency.
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