The Cowboys left their second preseason game with a 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, and the bigger story was how sharp they looked doing it. Even with starters sitting, Dallas played like a team that knows exactly what it wants to be on both sides of the ball. Under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, the defense looks much more organized than the group that struggled so badly in 2025, and the offense kept making things look easy.
Joe Milton III was the engine for that early burst. After Sam Howell had gotten the Week 1 start, Milton earned the nod Saturday night and wasted little time separating himself in the QB2 battle.
Dallas’ first drive went 66 yards on 12 plays before stalling on fourth-and-one when Zack Kuntz couldn’t haul in Milton’s play-action throw. Kuntz also had another pass go through his hands later in the first quarter, though the Cowboys still moved the chains when Arizona was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Milton didn’t let that slow him down. Dallas scored touchdowns on its next three drives, and the first two came on his throws.
He hit Malik Davis for an eight-yard score on third down, then later dropped a 53-yard strike to Jonathan Mingo. He finished the night by punching in a one-yard touchdown run to cap a four-play, 78-yard march early in the second quarter.
By halftime, Milton had the Cowboys up 24-6 after going 9-of-13 for 179 yards and two touchdown passes.
Davis was one of the night’s clear standouts as well. He rushed for 29 yards on five carries, caught the opening touchdown from Milton, and even drew praise for his blitz protection in the first quarter.
He did lose a fumble at the end of a kick return, but as a runner he looked the part. Right now, he has to be the favorite for the RB2 job.
Jaydon Blue also made a strong case for himself. He looked more comfortable in the offense than he has at any point in his career and led Dallas with 75 yards on 15 carries. For a player entering year two, it was the kind of outing that can build real confidence.
Milton’s night wasn’t just about the passing game. He kept the offense on schedule, and when the Cowboys needed a drive to finish with points, he delivered.
Howell, by contrast, was not as sharp after entering in the second half. He couldn’t generate the same explosive plays Milton did and finished with an ugly red zone interception in the fourth quarter, throwing off his back foot under pressure and sending a 50-50 ball toward Anthony Smith that Isaiah Oliver intercepted.
On defense, LT Overton continued to show why he may be one of the more underrated rookies in Dallas’ draft class. The fourth-round pick from Alabama, known for his run defense, has flashed as a pass rusher in camp and picked up his first sack Saturday night, then followed it with a Karate Kid celebration.
The sack came on third-and-goal and forced Arizona to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown. If Overton keeps that up, there’s a lot less reason to worry about the depth behind Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.
Shavon Revel also had a night to remember. He was flagged for illegal contact early on the opening drive, but he answered with an interception off Gardner Minshew that set up Dallas’ first touchdown. The Cowboys pulled him shortly after that and let rookie Devin Moore take over, which says plenty about how much they saw from Revel in this one.
Another rookie, Jaishawn Barham, made his debut and was handed a major responsibility right away. He wore the green-dot duties and handled the communication while making his presence felt all over the field.
Early in the game, Barham blew up Corey Kiner for a one-yard loss on a tackle for loss. He finished with five tackles and gave Dallas a strong first impression at a spot that had been a question mark entering camp.
Not every Cowboy came away with a clean night. Kuntz had a chance to make himself indispensable with injuries leaving Dallas with only two active tight ends, himself and Luke Schoonmaker, but he couldn’t finish the opportunities he got. And Howell’s interception in the red zone was the kind of mistake that can sting in a quarterback competition, even in August.
Still, the night belonged to Dallas’ young talent. The Cowboys rolled, the offense kept humming, and several rookies and depth players made real statements in a game that gave the team plenty to like.
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