When it rains, it pours. And if you’re Brett Maher, well you might be drenched.
Unfortunately, Sunday’s struggles are all too familiar for the Los Angeles Rams kicker. In the team’s 24-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7, Maher missed two crucial field goals. And now, he’s in danger of being pushed out of another city.
This is the same Maher, who missed four of five extra-point attempts during the Cowboys’ Wild Card Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 16, 2023. Maher’s brutal day at the office turned out to be record-setting, as his dismal playoff performance concluded with the most missed extra points in a game (regular season or playoffs) since extra points were first tracked in 1932.
Nine months and six days later, Maher’s struggles found him again. Coming into Sunday’s game, Maher had made 16 of 20 attempts (8%) and was a perfect 12-of-12 on extra points. But those previous misses were overshadowed in the fact that they came in two wins, ones that the Rams were able to overcome.
Turn to Sunday. On Los Angeles’ second offensive possession of the game, Maher’s 53-yard field goal was no good after it doinked off the left upright.
Later in the first quarter, Maher connected from 41 yards out to get the Rams on the board. But, that didn’t seem to be a positive trend, as he couldn’t get those misses out of his system. Maher missed an extra point following a second-quarter Tutu Atwell-Matthew Stafford touchdown.
And with that, Maher couldn’t seem to redeem himself from 50 and out. With the Rams up 17-10 and looking to extend their lead to two possessions, Maher’s 51-yard field goal attempt was no good. Wide Left.
The Steelers would score on the ensuing possession to tie the game at 17 apiece.
They would go on to win 24-17. The total of Maher’s misses? 7 points.
As you may imagine, those in the NFL world didn’t have particularly nice things to say about the veteran kicker.
Brett Maher should be banned from SoFi Stadium.
Brett Maher should be banned from LA County.
Brett Maher should be banned from the state of California.
— Scoot (@_SC00T) October 22, 2023
Don’t blame the refs….Blame everybody on the coaching staff that allowed Brett Maher to be on the team this long.
— Nick (@NickVez) October 22, 2023
The Rams just got absolutely hosed by the refs:
1. Wasn’t a pass interference on Witherspoon.
2. Pickett was short on 4th down. Terrible spot.
3. Fire Brett Maher.
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) October 22, 2023
https://twitter.com/BurnedByCeeDee/status/1716220402182008870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1716220402182008870%7Ctwgr%5E37926de10a1f61a577b68a54563a5803a20dc215%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FBurnedByCeeDee2Fstatus2F1716220402182008870widget%3DTweet
Dear Steelers: would you like some momentum?
Sincerely,
Brett Maher
— HotDaddyWags (@Wags_Official) October 22, 2023
This is Brett Maher's last day in the NFL. God willing.
— Funhouse (@BackAftaThis) October 22, 2023
“Brett Maher for the field goal”
pic.twitter.com/IH25R3baE5— Arb (@HoodiAustin) October 22, 2023
Don't let Brett Maher kick again today, this is pathetic
— Sosa Kremenjaš (@QBsMVP) October 22, 2023
It’s fair to say that the Rams will be looking for a new kicker after this week.
