Watch: Cowboys’ Lamb toe-tap leads to Maher thumbing nose at interfering refs

© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports In one of two season previews, I mentioned the possibility that Maher would be resurgent based on his previous release. One of the reasons I based those candidates on is the bounce-back philosophy that seems to happen to kickers.

Oftentimes, kickers emerge after getting their feet wet. Things may not work out for them immediately, or they may suffer a down year and then bounce back. Of course there are kickers who never had it or lost it and never recovered, but some of the best seasons from kickers come after they had a bad season. Whether it be kicking injured, a loss of confidence or a bad environment, looking for guys in need of second chances just makes a ton of sense considering how performances fluctuate at this position.

Maher firmly fits as a candidate for this to happen to him. Boom.

The Cowboys had the ball at their own 14-yard line with 31 seconds left. Quarterback Dak Prescott slowly marched down the field with quick throws before delivering a dime to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for 27 yards.

Lamb taught a toe-tap masterclass on the play, clearly keeping both feet in while securing the ball. This set up kicker Brett Maher for a 60-yard kick, which he drew inside the right upright for his NFL record fourth 60+ yard field goal. It was 23-3 Dallas for a moment until the officials made a shocking change.

The crew announced that they were reviewing Lamb’s highlight grab and allegedly made the call before Maher’s booming kick. Lamb’s catch was clear, and the review appeared as a ploy to keep the score closer to the Cowboys faithful. Nonetheless, Maher walked right back on the field and made it no doubt right between the uprights for the 60-yard field goal, which might as well be a 120-yarder.

The make was followed by a furious celebration by Prescott as Maher walked off the field with some swagger. Thanks to the kick, Dallas goes to the locker room with a 23-3 lead and receives the ball to start the second half.

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