Brandon Aubrey has been one of the Cowboys’ biggest weapons since arriving in Dallas in 2023, but this season has introduced a wrinkle the team can’t ignore.
Aubrey, 31, came into the NFL after a college soccer career and quickly established himself as one of the league’s most reliable kickers. That’s what makes his current stretch stand out. He’s 3 for 8 from 50 yards or longer this season, and that kind of inconsistency from distance has become a real issue for Dallas.
The bigger concern, though, is how that ties into Brian Schottenheimer’s approach. Aubrey is still basically automatic from 50 yards and in, but the Cowboys have been leaning on long field-goal tries in spots where a more aggressive decision might make more sense. With Dallas boasting a talented offense and a really good quarterback, settling for those kicks as often as they have doesn’t look like the best use of the roster.
Aubrey’s track record has clearly given Schottenheimer confidence to go for the long attempt, but the kicker’s struggles this season should push the head coach to rethink that strategy. As one fan put it, “Meanwhile Schotty calls the game like he’s automatic from 70,” Another fan added, “Anything 4th & 2 or less from the opponents 35-45 yard line should be an automatic go for it. Dal 45 to opp 45 is situational go for it or punt,”
Dallas now heads into a big Sunday matchup with San Francisco at 4-5, needing a statement win. The 49ers have been one of the NFL’s best teams and have given the Cowboys plenty of trouble over the past five years or so.
Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. E.T. on FOX.
In Other News...
Cowboys Got One More Lifeline In The NFC East Race
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For the Cowboys, the path forward is still about staying alive long enough for the schedule to give them a chance. The remaining games for Dallas, New York and Washington will go a long way toward deciding whether the division title is still in play or whether the focus shifts more squarely to the playoff picture, and every result from here carries a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Just Got A Real NFC East Opening
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For a Cowboys team getting ready to face the 49ers in Week 10, the timing matters. Dallas still has a stretch ahead that includes three straight home games and more divisional chances, which keeps the door open if it can take care of business and keep the pressure on the teams above it. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Get A Live Test Of Two Recent Trade Decisions
The Cowboys will get a fresh look at two trade decisions when they meet the 49ers in Week 10, with each side carrying a piece of the others roster history into the matchup. Dallas sent Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco in March 2025, while later bringing in linebacker Dee Winters through the 2026 NFL Draft, giving this game a built-in layer of evaluation beyond the usual NFC measuring stick.
Odighizuwa has brought pass-rush value but has also had issues holding up against the run, which makes him worth watching against a Cowboys offense that will want to know what kind of impact he can still make. Winters, meanwhile, has had a mixed start of his own, and this matchup offers Dallas a live test of whether the move made sense on both sides of the ball, even if the fuller answer may not come until after the game. [Read more 🡒]