ARLINGTON, Texas.
Sam Howell took over a stagnant Cowboys offense in the second half Friday and nearly flipped a preseason finale that had slipped away. Two touchdown throws, a physical two-point run, and a late push still left Dallas short in a 27-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys finished 2-1. New Orleans closed 1-2. The Associated Press reported the backup quarterback picture remains unclear behind Dak Prescott in Dallas and Tyler Shough with the Saints, and Friday's tape did little to settle either conversation.
Howell's rally
Howell completed 12 of 18 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions after halftime, a 130.6 rating according to the club. He hit Jordan Hudson for 52 yards late in the third, then opened the fourth with a 26-yard touchdown to Hudson. A 21-yard scoring toss to Mitch Van Vooren followed.
Howell ran the tying two-point conversion himself, taking on multiple tacklers, the AP reported. A skirmish in the end zone drew an unsportsmanlike-conduct flag on Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom.
The final drive told a mixed story. The AP said Howell picked up a first down before four consecutive incompletions clinched the loss. Cowboys.com described the decisive snap as a fourth-and-10 incomplete to Jaden Smith from Dallas' 39 with 1:46 left.
Milton's half, Aubrey's night
Joe Milton started and finished 8 of 15 for 92 yards in the first half. Three drives ended in Brandon Aubrey field goals from 49, 51 and 58 yards; Aubrey also missed a 57-yarder wide right. In Milton's first two preseason games, the AP noted, he had gone 21 of 28 for 286 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer, speaking to the AP, framed the race as unresolved: "It's neck and neck. What I love about them both is both guys want to win the spot. Both guys want to compete, but both guys are really happy for each other when they do well.
Last week, it was Sam cheering on Joe. And Joe cheering on Sam in this game. That's the tough part of this weekend."
Cowboys.com listed Howell's first two games combined at 68.2 percent completions, 159 yards, one touchdown, one interception and an 85.2 rating, numbers that made Friday's surge stand out.
