The Dallas Cowboys secured a 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at Sate Farm Stadium, pushing their preseason record to 2-0 for the first time since 2007, according to game reports. Quarterback Joe Milton orchestrated a dominant performance for the second- and third-string units, completing 9 of 13 pass attempts for 179 yards and two touchdowns to finish with a 151.4 passer rating.
Milton and Offense Capitalize in the Desert
Milton set the tone early in the matchup, directing a crisp offense that averaged over seven yards per play, as detailed by Cowboys Wire. Preseason rotation plans initially called for Milton and Sam Howell to alternate starts, with Howell taking the opening snaps the previous week against the Seattle Seahawks. In Glendale, Milton made the most of his opportunity, connecting with wide receiver Jonathan Mingo for a long touchdown pass in the first quarter and running for another score himself in the second quarter.
The Dallas ground game maintained steady pressure throughout the contest, averaging over five yards per carry. Second-year running back Jaydon Blue handled the bulk of the workload with 15 rushing attempts, while Malik Davis chipped in as the starter by averaging 5.8 yards across five carries, alongside a receiving touchdown from Milton.
Roster Battles and Standout Performances
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Camden Brown bolstered his bid for a 53-man roster spot by breaking loose for a 70-yard catch and run during the first half. Despite an ill-advised stretch for the goal line that caught the attention of coaches, Brown’s consecutive strong preseason outings have turned heads within the organization. Meanwhile, rookie offensive lineman Drew Shelton earned the start at left tackle.
Kicker Brandon Aubrey added reliable scoring before halftime, connecting on a 50-yard field goal to extend the lead to 24-6. The Cowboys capitalized on six of their eight offensive possessions while committing zero penalties on offense during the dominant stretch.
Stifling Defensive Effort Under Christian Parker
Defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s unit limited Arizona to a single touchdown for the second week. Rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham made his team debut wearing the green dot—handling defensive play-calling duties—and immediately recorded an aggressive tackle for loss on a Cardinals run play. Shavon Revel contributed to the turnover margin by intercepting a deep pass attempt in the first quarter.
Although the Dallas defense surrendered four separate Cardinals drives of 50 yards or more, they clamped down in critical territory, holding Arizona to 25 yards or less on four other possessions. LT Overton also contributed a sack in the second quarter, helping force Arizona into settling for field goal attempts rather than touchdowns.
Next Preseason Checkpoint
The Cowboys return to their home facility in Frisco, Texas, to finalize training camp preparations ahead of their preseason finale. Dallas will host the Saints on Friday at Ford Center at The Star, marking the final tune-up before the regular season begins.
