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FRISCO, Texas — A low snap gets Brandon Aubrey the benefit of the doubt on his missed 50-yard field goal at Indianapolis, according to Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones. Jones discussed the kicker Tuesday during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan’s Shan & RJ show.
The 50-yard attempt came with the game tied 20-20 and about 3½ minutes left in Sunday’s 27-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Long snapper Trent Sieg’s snap bounced before holder Bryan Anger got the ball in place, The Associated Press’ Schuyler Dixon reported.
Dallas has dealt with operation problems like it before this season, Jones said, and the miss did not change his view of the kicker.
“Oh yes, no, I’d give him the benefit of the doubt on that,” Jones said. “He’d love to have that snap back, and as we all know, boy, that’s a big part of the execution of the kick. But yeah, we’ve had those type of things happen.”
Jerry Jones Commends Dallas Cowboys Special Teams
The special teams unit as a whole should be commended, in Jones’ view, with Aubrey contributing on kickoffs.
“Overall, that special teams unit should be commended,” Jones continued. “That special teams unit is really playing well and giving us a real chance. Aubrey’s doing some great jobs with that kickoff, and so all of that’s good. I know no one is more disappointed than him getting the opportunity to show what a kicker he is, especially from distance.”
Baltimore blocked a 59-yard try in Week 3 in Rio de Janeiro, and Houston blocked a 65-yard attempt a week later. At the end of the first half against Arizona on Nov. 1, Aubrey’s 61-yard try missed wide right, and Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said afterward that the team trusts him to make those kicks. His longest make this season came from 60 yards against Washington. In his fourth season, Aubrey is making a career-low 77% of his field goal attempts.
Overcoming Mistakes Before San Francisco 49ers Visit
A healthy quarterback is what gives Jones reason to think the Cowboys can change direction from one week to the next. Dallas has not been a team good enough to overcome mistakes like the one on the field goal unit for several weeks.
“But again, those are the things that you have to overcome. You have to be a good enough team to overcome,” Jones said. “We haven’t been that. We really haven’t been that for several weeks, and so, but have I seen several weeks of not having a good team? If you’ve got key players like your quarterback healthy and can have him out there to compete. Boy, have I seen these things make some real changes going in a positive direction from one week to the next.”
Dak Prescott led the 28th game-winning drive of his career at Indianapolis. His 46-yard completion to Ryan Flournoy set up the go-ahead 1-yard touchdown run by Javonte Williams with 1:08 left.
The Cowboys (4-5) host the San Francisco 49ers (7-1) on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
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