A 64-yarder at the horn, then the walk-off
On Sept. 14, 2025, the Cowboys didn’t just lean on their kicker—they won because of him. Brandon Aubrey drilled a 64-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to push Dallas into overtime against the New York Giants, then came back in the extra period and buried the game-winner. That’s a two-punch finish most teams can’t even attempt, let alone pull off.
The 64-yarder was the jaw-dropper. Attempts from that distance are typically desperation heaves. Coaches weigh the risk of a return if it comes up short, the low odds, and the pressure of the moment. Dallas sent him out anyway. The ball carried, the sideline erupted, and a game the Giants were on the verge of closing flipped in a heartbeat.
Then, in overtime, the Cowboys rode their defense and field position until Aubrey could end it. He did, cleanly. Nothing flashy in the mechanics—just a calm approach, a smooth strike, and the quiet confidence of a specialist who knows where his range starts and ends better than anyone on the field.
On the CBS Sports broadcast, analysts didn’t hold back. One called Aubrey “the best non-quarterback offensive player in the National Football League,” arguing that once Dallas crosses midfield, points are already on the board. That’s hyperbolic praise for most kickers. For Aubrey right now, it tracks.
If you’re counting history, 64 yards sits among the longest makes the league has ever seen. Only Justin Tucker’s 66-yarder is longer in a regular-season game, and Matt Prater’s 64 from 2013 is the other landmark at that distance. You don’t live in that neighborhood by accident. You get there with leg strength, repeatable timing, and a head that doesn’t wobble when the season’s first big moment asks you to be perfect.
How Aubrey changes the way Dallas—and opponents—play
This isn’t just about one kick. Aubrey stretches the field in a way that messes with normal math. Most coaches consider the 45-yard line the outer edge of their comfort zone. That’s where fourth-and-medium becomes a punt or a cautious try. Aubrey moves that line back. If Dallas gets to the logo, they have a decision most teams don’t: try a 60-plus with a real chance to hit it.
That affects everything. Opponents think twice about conservative calls near midfield because a sack on third down or a stuffed draw might still give Dallas a long but realistic attempt. Defensive coordinators dial up pressure differently when three yards on second down might turn into three points instead of a punt. Even end-of-half sequences shift—where most teams play for a Hail Mary or a sideline out, Dallas can send its kicker and take the clean shot.
There’s also the win-probability swing with a kicker like this. Historically, field goals from 60-plus yards are converted at a very low clip. But Dallas isn’t guessing. They’ve seen Aubrey hit from deep in games, in warmups, and in practice. That trust changes Mike McCarthy’s fourth-down menu and two-minute clock management. You don’t need 25 yards to set up a shot; 8–12 yards can be enough. That’s a different playbook.
Aubrey has earned that trust fast. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and set the NFL record for most consecutive field goals to start a career. He arrived in Dallas after a late-career pivot most players never pull off—college soccer at Notre Dame, a brief pro soccer stint, a turn with the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions, and then, suddenly, one of the most reliable legs in the NFL. With Dallas, the leg power—kickoffs that erase returns, long attempts that aren’t just theater—stood out from day one.
Remember, this is the NFC East. Dallas-Giants games tend to swing on a handful of moments—third-and-short stops, red-zone execution, and yes, special teams. The Giants did plenty right in this one. They controlled long stretches, kept Dallas off rhythm, and forced the Cowboys to win ugly. Aubrey erased all of that in seconds, once at the end of regulation and once more in overtime. That’s not luck; that’s a weapon.
It also puts pressure on future opponents. If you’re facing Dallas, what do you do on your own 48-yard line late in a half? Punt and risk a 20-yard return plus a couple of sideline routes turning into a 62-yarder? Go for it and hand Dallas a short field if you fail? None of the answers feel good when the other team can cash in from distances your roster can’t match.
There’s a ripple effect inside the Cowboys’ offense too. Quarterbacks play freer when a throw to the flat on third-and-11 for six yards isn’t empty—it nudges the team into live kicking range. Offensive coordinators can call more middle-of-the-field routes with no timeout left, knowing they don’t need to reach the 35 to take a serious shot.
And for all the talk about range, reliability is the part that tilts seasons. Aubrey isn’t a specialist who trades accuracy for distance. He hits from 27 with the same tempo he uses from 57. That consistency is why the CBS crew floated the idea that he’s the most valuable non-quarterback offensive piece in the sport right now. You can argue for elite receivers, left tackles, or tight ends—and you’d have a case—but none of them turn stalled drives at the 50 into three points this often.
The Giants won’t be the last team to feel it. Divisional games in December, windy road dates outdoors, postseason nerves—those are the places kickers stack legacies. Aubrey’s already put down a marker in mid-September. The rest of the league can see the tape. They’ll adjust: more aggressive fourth downs against Dallas, different punt strategies to avoid short fields, and a greater premium on red-zone touchdowns because field goals won’t be enough if Dallas can answer from midfield.
For Dallas, the formula is straightforward. Trust the defense to keep games tight. Trust the offense to reach the logo. Then trust the kicker to do what most can’t. On Sunday against the Giants, it wasn’t theory. It was the finish.
- The 64-yard make is among the longest in NFL history, trailing only a 66-yarder on the all-time list.
- At midfield, Dallas now has a real scoring option other teams don’t, forcing opponents into tougher fourth-down choices.
- Aubrey’s path—from soccer to USFL to All-Pro—underscores how quickly he’s become central to the Cowboys’ identity.
- End-game management changes with his range; Dallas can chase smaller chunks and still set up winning kicks.
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