The Arizona Cardinals will face the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football in Week 9, and that means facing arguably the best kicker in the NFL. Oftentimes, the kicker isn’t a key piece of a matchup you look at each week, but Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey has shown that he can change the game.
During the Cardinals’ mid-week press conferences, special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers explained how Aubrey’s talent can change the game for an offense as well as how a defense has to play him.
How Does Brandon Aubrey Change the Game?
Aubrey has taken over the kicking game since he entered the NFL. The Cowboys’ kicker was an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame and signed with the Cowboys in 2023.
Since then, all he’s done is nail clutch kicks. Aubrey started his career with 35 consecutive made field goals, which is an NFL record.
The Cowboys kicker has five career field goals from 60-plus yards and made 14 field goals from 50-plus yards in 2024, both of which are NFL records.
As the Cardinals prepare to face the Cowboys’ loaded offense and Aubrey’s kicking ability, Rodgers gave his thoughts on how Aubrey affects the game.
“It may change how you play their offense, defensively. Like, are they in range? Are they not in range? Like, some teams they get to the 50,” Rodgers said. “They need more yards to where they may attempt it.
“You give that player the respect, like he’s attempting a 64-yard kick in a game, most of the time with most kickers, there’s a returner sitting back there waiting on it. Not with that guy. It’s not going to be short. That’s one thing you kind of take out of the equation.”
Rodgers did add that Aubrey’s ability doesn’t change the defense much other than that, but the strength of his leg is certainly a factor.
Aubrey has made the Pro Bowl twice and the All-Pro team once in his three years in the NFL. The Cowboys’ kicker has yet to miss a field goal this season.
The Cardinals have made 86.7% of their field goal attempts. Football is played in three phases, and special teams is one that the Cardinals will need to focus on in Week 9 against the Cowboys.
Arizona sits at 2-5 heading into Monday Night Football and is projected for 6.3 wins, according to PFSN’s NFL Football Playoff Meter.
Five of the Cardinals’ next six opponents are in the current playoff picture. Monday night is a must-win for the Cardinals if they want to inch closer to their goal with a demanding schedule ahead.
