Brett Maher's pregame warmups were going so poorly that Jerry Jones intervened with a pep talk

While the Cowboys did easily defeat the Buccaneers in their NFC wild card matchup, the entire build-up to Sunday’s divisional round game against the Niners has surrounded the kicking game.

And judging from pregame warmups, that conversation isn’t going to stop.

Cowboys kicker Brett Maher missed four extra points in that wild card win. It was such a shocking performance that quarterback Dak Prescott was caught on tape urging the coaches to go for two every time instead (he later said it was just an emotional response and talked it over with Maher). But the Cowboys did decide to stick with Maher for Sunday. His performance in pregame warmups didn’t inspire confidence, though.

Jerry Jones walks to the field to speak with Brett Maher and holder Bryan Anger. pic.twitter.com/Sci7tYw5O9

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) January 22, 2023

Maher just missed 2 more and Jerry Jones literally walked on to the field to talk to him. I have NEVER seen that before. https://t.co/GlMrnA0fjP

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) January 22, 2023

According to reporters at Levi’s Stadium, Maher struggled throughout warmups. And after missing a pair of kicks, owner Jerry Jones came onto the field to give Maher a pep talk. This came after Jones adamantly supported Maher earlier in the week.

And on top of that, the Cowboys staff did not appreciate some gamesmanship by the Niners where they got in the way of Maher’s warmups.

49ers players trying to prevent Brett Maher from kicking pregame field goals pic.twitter.com/2v1g9HnPkz

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) January 22, 2023

But a pep talk from Jones? Fans had plenty of thoughts about that.