The Dallas Cowboys kept rolling in the 2026 NFL preseason, and this time the Arizona Cardinals were the ones on the wrong end of it. After a lower-scoring win over the Seattle Seahawks last week, Dallas followed it up with a much more explosive 34-13 victory on Saturday.
No starters were on the field for either team, but that didn’t make the performance any less useful for the Cowboys. With plenty of key role players getting real work, Dallas came away with another strong showing and a few more names making noise before the games start to count.
Joe Milton was right in the middle of it. He looked comfortable, hit several routine throws, used his legs to extend plays and kept converting QB sneaks with ease.
He also fired a few deep balls up the sideline and scored on a simple QB draw. It wasn’t perfect - he missed a handful of throws - but there was no missing how dominant he could look.
Sam Howell had a tougher night, including a turnover in the end zone, though he still showed mobility and efficiency otherwise.
On defense, Jaishawn Barham was everywhere early. He came downhill fast, slipped around an offensive lineman for an easy tackle for loss on the opening drive, then did it again later in the first quarter.
He added a pressure and a strong coverage tackle in the opening stretch. Barham did miss one tackle, but the overall package was impressive.
Jaydon Blue turned in his best outing of the preseason so far. He picked up a string of solid runs and, just as importantly, showed he was willing to run through contact and keep his feet moving for extra yards. He finished with 75 yards on 15 carries.
Malik Davis also kept building his case for the RB2 job. He stacked up several chunk gains, consistently fell forward and even found the end zone on a touchdown catch. The fact that his night ended early says plenty about where the staff seems to stand with him.
There was more good work from the receiving group, too. Camden Brown looks like more than a one-game flash after another productive night.
He hauled in a 70-yard catch after adjusting well when Milton scrambled, then later secured another tough grab while taking a big hit. He also shook free again, though that throw was over his head.
Jonathan Mingo added his own highlight. He caught a nine-yard pass on the opening drive, then later punished his defender on a double move and turned it into a long touchdown reception.
Shavon Revel Jr. had a busy five snaps. He drew an early illegal contact flag, then came away with an interception after the receiver slipped, turning it into a long return. Playing only one series suggests he’s already fairly established.
The pass rush kept Arizona uncomfortable throughout the night. Malachi Lawrence applied pressure on Revel’s interception, LT Overton finished a sack, Tyrus Wheat logged a sack and a hurry, Isaiah Land made a strong run stop, and Jay Toia joined the action as well. It was a productive night for the defensive front.
There were some rough edges, though. Drew Shelton’s first noticeable play was a blown block, and he struggled in pass protection all night, giving up a hurry.
To his credit, he was solid in the run game. Ajani Cornelius, meanwhile, stood out as the best offensive tackle on the field Saturday.
Devin Moore had a difficult night at corner. He allowed a big gain in the first quarter after failing to get his head around, gave up another catch by giving too much cushion and also failed to set the edge on a play that would have been a Cardinals touchdown had it not been wiped out by holding.
Julius Wood was active and steady, making several plays on ballcarriers, including in the open field. He also showed well in run support and finished with a team-high seven tackles.
And for Brian Schottenheimer’s group, the penalty count was manageable. Dallas was flagged three times in the first quarter, with two of those coming on third down, but the team cleaned it up from there and finished with just four penalties for 20 yards.
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