Milton Shines as Cowboys Crush Cardinals 34-13

Joe Milton threw two TDs and ran for another, strengthening his case for Dallas's backup QB job.

The Dallas Cowboys rolled to a 34-13 preseason victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night at State Farm Stadium, building a 24-6 halftime lead and never looking back. Both teams rested most of their starters, turning the spotlight onto reserve players fighting for roster spots. According to Bleacher Report, the Cowboys improved to 2-0 in the preseason while the Cardinals fell to 1-2. The scoreline reflected a one-sided affair in which Dallas controlled all three phases, from an early interception return to a commanding ground game that kept Arizona's defense on its heels throughout the evening.

Joe Milton delivered his second consecutive impressive preseason outing, throwing two touchdown passes and running for a third score. According to CBS Sports, Milton finished 9-of-13 passing for 176 yards, connecting on a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Mingo and a 70-yard strike to Camden Brown that set up his 1-yard touchdown run. The Dallas Cowboys' own preview had flagged Milton as a player to watch, noting his unique ability to run out of the pocket and pick up first downs with his long strides. Milton's combination of arm strength and mobility was on full display, with his touchdown pass to Mingo described as perfectly executed as the receiver made a double move before Milton hit him in stride.

Milton is battling Sam Howell for the No. According to CBS Sports, Howell completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards in the second half but also threw an interception in the end zone. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer cautioned that the competition is not settled, stating, "This is long from over. We're going back to Frisco, thankfully, get a chance to be home and put some more training camp days in. You've got to give Joe his credit, he's played really well the past two games, but we have a lot of confidence in Sam as well." Schottenheimer praised Milton's ability to control the football's velocity, saying he has done that "at a very high level." According to CBS Sports, Milton was a sixth-round pick by New England in 2024 and appeared in four regular-season games with Dallas last season.

Arizona's evening was marred by penalties and missed opportunities. According to CBS Sports, the Cardinals had two touchdowns called back on the same drive when receiver Rivaldo Fairweather was flagged for offensive holding and then offensive pass interference, forcing Arizona to settle for a 38-yard Chad Ryland field goal. Later, a false start at the Dallas 1-yard line was followed by a sack, resulting in another short field goal. Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur was blunt afterward: "It was the culmination of our week — we had a sloppy week of practice. I don't think we've practiced really well over the last week since Vegas." According to CBS Sports, Gardner Minshew completed 19 of 23 passes for 177 yards but could not generate enough points despite the efficient passing numbers.

The Cowboys' defense set the tone early when cornerback Shavon Revel intercepted a Minshew pass after receiver Simi Fehoko slipped on the route, returning it 22 yards to the Arizona 12, according to CBS Sports. Three plays later, Milton found Malik Davis for an 8-yard touchdown. CBS Sports also reported that rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham, making his preseason debut after recovering from a groin injury, recorded an early tackle for loss. On the injury front, Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson left with a ribs injury in the first quarter after a big hit, and Cowboys safety Julius Wood departed with a concussion in the third quarter. According to Bleacher Report, Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin suffered a groin injury during warm-ups and was scheduled for an MRI on Sunday.

Both teams now turn to their preseason finales with roster decisions looming. According to CBS Sports, the Cowboys host New Orleans on Friday night, while the Cardinals travel to Green Bay on Friday night. For Dallas, the backup quarterback competition between Milton and Howell remains the headline storyline, with Schottenheimer indicating more evaluation is needed despite Milton's back-to-back strong outings. The Cowboys also saw Jaydon Blue rush for 75 yards on 15 carries, per CBS Sports, adding intrigue to the running-back depth chart. For Arizona, LaFleur's acknowledgment of a sloppy practice week raises questions about preparation as the Cardinals look to clean up penalties and finish drives before the regular season begins.