Joe Milton’s efficiency and Sam Howell’s late-game heroics left Dallas coaches with a difficult choice as the preseason concluded with a neck-and-neck battle for Dak Prescott’s backup.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys lost 27-24 to the New Orleans Saints in their preseason finale at AT&T Stadium on Friday.
But in the end, both QBs in that game "won.''
With the backup quarterback role still undecided going into the game, it was Joe Milton who got the start, making it back-to-back games.
So, how did Joe fare? Did he beat out Sam Howell for the No. 2 QB job behind Dak Prescott?
Said coach Brian Schottenheimer: “It’s neck and neck; both guys want to win the spot.”
And so ... both guys kinda did, as on Sunday the team cut to 53 but retained both of Dak Prescott's caddies.
In the game?
Joe was fine, going 8 of 15 for 92 yards, and he didn't have a touchdown ... nor was he sacked.
Out of the four drives Milton was in the game for, the Cowboys managed a field goal on three of them, with Brandon Aubrey missing a 57-yarder in the second quarter.
We did see Milton revert to some of his old tendencies at times in the first half with his dancing feet, but for the most part, he was serviceable.
A nice 27-yard completion to Camden Brown was a highlight, but the offense didn't function as smoothly as it had in the previous two outings.
Milton's stats look a little misleading, as Joe hit UDFA tight end Michael Trigg three times in the hands, but three times he couldn't reel in the pass, and, in truth, they are likely catches he should be making.
Brown also had a drop as Milton hit him in the hands as well, so there is plenty of blame to go around for the offense.
Joe was pressured several times as the Saints' defensive line got through, but he evaded that pressure multiple times, either stepping up into the pocket or sliding outside to keep the play alive as he looked to deliver the ball to his weapons.
So, it was a mixed bag from Milton.
Howell's three-and-out on his first drive of the third quarter, which ended with a sack, followed by a punt on his second drive, likely helped his cause...initially.
But Howell came back with a huge 52-yard completion to Jordan Hudson on the following drive.
And Howell wasn't done.
A few plays later, Howell and Hudson connected for a 26-yard touchdown.
Battle on? You better believe it.
Howell came back AGAIN, leading a 12-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a 21-yard Mitch Van Vooren touchdown, before Howell took it himself on a two-point conversion to bring the Cowboys level at 24-24 after being down 24-9.
Before his final drive, Howell was 10 of 11 for 141 yards and 2 TDs with a 158.3 rating, and while he couldn't get the win, Sam made sure this quarterback battle will go down to the wire.
Who won the QB2 battle? In a way ... both of them did.
