A three-touchdown first half by Joe Milton powered the Dallas Cowboys to a 2-0 start to the 2026 preseason.
The Dallas Cowboys ended their West Coast training camp by stopping by State Farm Stadium and beating the Arizona Cardinals 34-13 in Week 2 of the 2026 preseason on Saturday night.
Dallas improved to 2-0 in the preseason for the first time since 2007.
The Cowboys started Joe Milton under center after the third-year pro played the second half of Dallas' preseason-opening win in Seattle last week.
Milton was effective against Arizona, accounting for three total touchdowns and completing 9 of 13 attempts for 179 yards before sitting down for the night at halftime.
Over his last four quarters of football overall, Milton is 21/28 for 286 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Sam Howell took over in the second half and completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards with an interception.
Jaydon Blue led the team in rushing with 75 yards on 15 carries (5.0 per). Malik Davis (five carries, 29 yards), Israel Abanikanda (eight carries, 39 yards) and Phil Mafah (one carry, 15 yards, TD) made up the committee on the ground.
Through the air, Camden Brown's 70-yard reception helped him lead the Cowboys with 77 receiving yards. Jonathan Mingo scored his first career touchdown on a 53-yard strike from Milton, and tight ends Zack Kuntz and Luke Schoonmaker combined for four catches and 55 yards.
The Cowboys will return to Frisco early Sunday morning before training camp continues in front of the fans at The Star.
Dallas hosts the New Orleans Saints on Friday, Aug. 28 to end the preseason.
First Quarter
Milton led a strong opening drive but couldn't convert a fourth-and-short pass to Kurtz.
The defense picked him up, however, with cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. moving past a fallen receiver to intercept Minshew on the Cardinals' first possession. Set up deep in Arizona territory again, Milton found Davis out of the backfield for an eight-yard touchdown connection to put the Cowboys on the board.
Milton stayed sharp with a perfectly placed 53-yard deep ball to Jonathan Mingo a couple of plays into Dallas' next series. The catch was Mingo's first career NFL touchdown. He was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, then traded to the Cowboys in the middle of the 2024 season.
The Cowboys dominated the line of scrimmage in the opening quarter, led by rookie standout Jaishawn Barham and his explosion as a blitzing linebacker. Barham, the third-round draft pick out of Michigan, was making his debut after missing the Seahawks game.
The Cardinals answered with a touchdown pass, but it was revoked as former Cowboy Rivaldo Fairweather was called for a hold.
Second Quarter
Continuing the drive, Fairweather was whistled again for offensive pass interference that would've led to his own touchdown. Arizona kicked a field goal to come away from the series with at least something.
Camden Brown broke free for a 70-yard catch and run, but his dive to the goal line fell just short of what could've been his third touchdown of the preseason already. Milton capped the drive with a sneak up the middle for his third total touchdown of the night, extending the Dallas lead to 21-3.
After an 11-play drive, the Cardinals challenged a spot short of the goal line, but the call was upheld. Arizona was backed up with a false start, its sixth of the first half. Cowboys rookie defensive tackle LT Overton took down Minshew in the backfield on fourth down to force the Cards into another field goal.
All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey hit the back of the net on a 50-yard field goal to send the Cowboys into halftime leading 24-6.
Third Quarter
Arizona put together another long drive and ended it with a touchdown run by Corey Kiner, bringing the score to 24-13 to get the third quarter underway.
The Cowboys brought on Howell for the second half, and running back Jaydon Blue stacked solid runs as Dallas protected its lead. Aubrey jogged back on to convert a 29-yard field goal with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Howell marched the Cowboys into the Cardinals' red zone, but on the 12th play of the drive, he floated a pass into double coverage that was intercepted by Isaiah Oliver.
Cowboys defensive tackle Jay Toia rushed the passer to force an errant throw, continuing a disruptive showing in the center of the defensive line.
Outside linebackers Sam Williams and Marist Liufau - both fighting to retain their spot on the new-look defense - teamed up for a sack of Arizona backup QB Kedon Slovis. Moments later, Dallas forced a turnover on downs to regain possession.
With two minutes to go in the game, Mafah circled the backfield before sprinting out to the left and scoring a 15-yard touchdown on his first rush of the game.
