The Dallas Cowboys’ 34-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night shocked fans for a number of reasons. But one of the biggest surprises was the typically reliable kicker, Brandon Aubrey, who missed two critical field goals, including one from 51 yards that would usually be an automatic make.

However, in Sunday night’s game, his perfect record took a major hit. Aubrey missed two field goals, including a kick from 51 yards that he would usually make easily. In a game that was close until the very end, those missed points were a huge, unexpected problem for the Cowboys. According to The Athletic’s Jon Machota’s latest tweet, after the game, Aubrey said,

“If you play the game long enough you’re gonna have some days like this. Just feels different being at home. First time for me it’s happened at home. But I’ve had days like this every year. I’ve had one specifically every year, so I bounced back those years and just do the same thing.”

Brandon Aubrey also offered insight into what went wrong with his kicks, noting, “Nothing needs to change in the process. I struck the first one well (from) 51 (yards) just left it a little right of the target. And then off the toe for the second one from 59 (yards), so pretty easy fixes for me.”

Aubrey had a busy night, attempting six field goals, which is the most he’s ever tried in one game. Even though he’s usually very accurate, having missed only two field goals all season, he surprisingly missed two more in this game. 

This brought back memories of two previous games where he also missed two field goals each: his rookie season finale and a game against the Commanders last year. Interestingly, both of those past games were played in the same stadium (Northwest Stadium), and both were Cowboys wins. 

 This recent game was the first time Brandon Aubrey missed multiple field goals when playing at home, and it was also the first time his misses occurred during a close loss. Not only did Dallas lose six potential points, but the misses also gave the Vikings great field position, allowing them to score 10 points right away. If Aubrey had made both kicks and the Cowboys’ defense had played well afterward, the final score could have flipped in the Cowboys’ favor.

What the Cowboys’ loss to the  Vikings means for the NFC standings

The 2025 NFL regular season is winding down, and the battle for playoff spots is heating up. However, as Week 15 concludes, only two teams have officially guaranteed themselves a spot in the postseason: the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Rams.

The Dallas Cowboys suffered a devastating 34-26 loss to the Vikings, plunging their season into crisis. With a record of 6-7-1, the Cowboys are now staring straight at elimination. Their playoff hopes could officially end in Week 16 if they lose to the Chargers or if their division rivals, the Eagles, defeat the Commanders. The team’s owner and general manager, Jerry Jones, was blunt about their prospects.

“I don’t know how to describe a miracle. I know that it would take very tight circumstances to get us in, and we expected that. We thought we’d have to win out to have a little room, but not a lot. Now, of course, I know how to count,” he said.

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 The Cowboys’ playoff chances are reportedly down to a mere 1%. Their entire season now rests on one highly unlikely scenario: they must win their final three games, and simultaneously, the Philadelphia Eagles must lose their final three games. Despite the long odds, Dallas is currently in second place in the NFC East and still technically “in the hunt” for a playoff miracle.

What do you think? Will the Cowboys be able to secure a playoff spot or not? Share your thoughts.