The New Orleans Saints closed out the preseason with a 27-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys, leaning on a productive ground game and a strong finish from Daniel Carlson to get it done.
Carlson handled the scoring early and late. The newly signed kicker opened the day with a 38-yard field goal, then came through again with less than two minutes left by drilling a 53-yard kick that pushed New Orleans ahead for good.
The Saints also found the end zone three times on the ground. Barion Brown, who has continued to stand out, scored on a 7-yard run. Spencer Rattler added an 8-yard touchdown run, and Zamir White capped the Saints’ third rushing score of the afternoon with an 11-yard touchdown.
That balance showed up in the numbers. New Orleans finished with 326 total yards, including 169 rushing yards at 5.3 yards per carry.
The Saints went 3-for-9 on third down, turned it over none, and converted 75% of their red-zone chances. They also took just four penalties for 39 yards.
The quarterback rotation gave both backup contenders a final chance to make their case for the QB2 job. Zach Wilson completed 9 of 12 passes for 93 yards, posted a 96.9 rating and also ran for a touchdown. Rattler went 8 of 10 for 79 yards with a 99.6 rating, adding his rushing score to the mix.
On the ground, Audric Estime led the way with 46 yards on four carries, while Kendre Miller added 42 yards on nine attempts. White finished with 23 yards on four carries. Through the air, Ronnie Bell led the Saints with six catches for 65 yards, and Bryce Lance added two receptions for 28 yards.
New Orleans also got production on defense. Isaiah Stalbird finished with eight total tackles, including four solo stops, a sack and a tackle for loss. Khristian Boyd recorded seven total tackles, and Garrett Nelson added a tackle and a sack.
Carlson finished 2-for-2 on field goals and also handled one extra point, while Ryan Wright punted three times for 128 yards, averaging 42.7 yards per kick.
After earning their first preseason win, the Saints turn to the regular season and a trip to face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, September 13, at 12 p.m. Central.
In Other News...
Saints Backfield Suddenly Has A New Reason For Optimism
Within days of arriving in New Orleans, Zamir White was already part of the conversation in the Saints backfield. The running back came over from the San Francisco 49ers in a player-for-player trade and got on the field quickly enough to make an impression in the Saints final preseason game, a 27-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys. With injuries thinning out the room, the team needed signs that the ground game could still hold together, and White offered one right away.
He needed only his second carry in a Saints uniform to find the end zone, breaking off an 11-yard touchdown that added a little more life to a rushing attack that had been searching for stability. The performance came with contributions from several backs, which is exactly the kind of depth New Orleans has been trying to build while navigating the injury issues around it. For a unit that entered the preseason with questions, Whites fast start gave the Saints a reason to feel better about what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Cutdown Fallout Starts With One Receiver Saints Fans Just Saw
The Cowboys 27-24 preseason loss to the Saints also pushed their roster decisions into sharper focus, and rookie wide receiver Jordan Hudson is one of the first names drawing attention. Hudson had only limited production in exhibition play, and with cutdown time arriving soon, his path to the 53-man roster looks narrow after a summer spent trying to carve out a role.
What comes next for Hudson remains the real question. He could still land on a practice squad, either in Dallas or elsewhere, or choose to take advantage of the transfer option that would allow him to return to college football for another season. For Saints fans who just saw him across the field, he may end up being one of those preseason names worth remembering even after the roster math is done. [Read more 🡒]
Spencer Rattler Just Made The Saints Backup QB Battle Real
Spencer Rattler gave the Saints something to think about in Week 3 of the preseason against the Cowboys, and he did it with the kind of steady, efficient work that stands out in a crowded quarterback room. After earlier struggles, Rattler completed 8 of 10 passes for 79 yards and added a rushing touchdown, showing enough poise to keep the backup competition from feeling like a formality.
Zach Wilson still sits in the mix, and the job is far from settled, but Rattlers performance added real energy to a battle the Saints have been monitoring closely. With roster decisions still ahead, New Orleans suddenly has a tougher call to make than it did a few days ago, and the final answer at quarterback may come down to which player can keep this momentum going when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]