The Dallas Cowboys fought tooth and nail to come out on top against the Minnesota Vikings. On kicker Brandon Aubrey, who had an especially cruel night, missing field goals of 51 and 59 yards. The 27-year-old, who will wear number 87 this season, owned up to what he’s done. He identified issues with his body shape and his ball-striking as the two primary culprits. Meanwhile, quarterback Dak Prescott, despite the Cowboys being eliminated from playoff contention, expressed his desire to continue playing football, emphasizing his passion for the game and the importance of teamwork.
Against the Vikings, all of Aubrey’s attempts were impactful at the time. Even the miss from 51 yards was in the range of expected misses for NFL kickers. The 59-yard attempt was a little bigger ask. Aubrey downplayed his performance, saying, “I think there were three combined between the two of us that we made. And the 59, I mean, sure you’d love to make it, but that’s not a high-percentage kick. For me, it’s probably a higher percentage than most, so I’d like to make it, but it’s not something I’m beating myself up about. [The 51-yarder] is in the zone where I would say you’d hope to make it. Any NFL kicker would be expected to make that kick.
Aubrey analyzed his struggles further, noting, “It’s hard to see where your foot makes contact with the ball, but that’s the big one.” He acknowledged that he sometimes experiences a misalignment in his kicking motion, saying, “I’ll have a toe mis-hit every once in a while, but those have a chance to still go in. The falling off the ball, my momentum’s going left and my leg’s trying to go right.”
The kicker-prop showed up the fact that the only thing he hadn’t managed to do this season was hit a kick from deep range. Although Aubrey faced some challenges, he is determined to keep making progress and aims to share a positive impact on his team.
This year, Aubrey has the honor of wearing number 87. He admits that number doesn’t mean a lot to him, but it does remind him of his late brother Joe, who wore number 8. “Eighty-seven, I don’t have a ton of meaning with it, but I’ve been 8 for a long time and that kind of reminds me of my brother,” he shared.
On the home front, Dak Prescott’s resolve to play football never wavered. Prescott suffered a devastating ankle injury in 2020 that caused him to miss 11 games. These days, he’s all in on taking any and every opportunity to get on the field. “This is what I love to do. Sitting out last year and the times before, you don’t take getting to play this game for granted,” he stated.
Despite the Cowboys’ playoff elimination, Prescott emphasized the importance of teamwork: “I’m healthy and I get a chance to take the field with my brothers. I’m super excited for this opportunity.” His eagerness to get back on the field reminds us of his commitment to the game and teammates.
As he prepares for upcoming games, Prescott acknowledges the challenges faced by the team and maintains his focus on winning. “You play every game to win. You play every game with a chance to go to the playoffs or play in the Super Bowl,” he noted.
Prescott’s resilience shines through as he looks back on his battle and overcome–winning the cancer fight at last. Reflecting on his recovery journey, he remarked, “Those last few games I put down the crutches so just to even think about that, right, and think about that now I’m here and I’m feeling the best that I’ve had.”
While the Cowboys’ long-term outlook might seem bleak this deep into the season, Aubrey and Prescott exemplify the grit and work ethic that characterize the best of the game of professional football. They are meeting their moment with such intensity. Their mindset is evident: do everything they can to be the best performances possible, and be there for each other as a teammate.
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