Saints 27, Cowboys 24: Carlson's 53-Yarder Holds Off Howell

August 28, 2026 - Arlington - Sam Howell had just tied it. Zach Wilson still had a kicker who could see the uprights from 53.

Daniel Carlson made it with 1:55 left. The New Orleans Saints beat the Dallas Cowboys 27-24 at AT&T Stadium. Dak Prescott did not play. Tyler Shough, New Orleans' starter, did not play. The finale was a backup-quarterback tape in a building that was not the Superdome.

Dallas finished 2-1 and missed its first unbeaten preseason in 20 years. New Orleans finished 1-2 and avoided a winless preseason since 2015.

Rattler first half. Wilson the winner. Howell the rally.

Spencer Rattler directed three first-half scoring drives and scored on an 8-yard keeper to the pylon. He went 8 of 10 for 79 yards. Barion Brown, a sixth-round rookie filling in with Jordyn Tyson out (hamstring), scored first on a 7-yard run. Audric Estime set up Rattler's touchdown with a 33-yard run (four carries, 46 yards) while competing with Kendre Miller (nine for 42) to back up Travis Etienne.

Wilson opened the second half with a drive that ended on Zamir White's 11-yard run. He finished 9 of 12 for 93 yards and then the winning field-goal march. Kellen Moore said both Rattler and Wilson are capable of playing and will provide depth.

Joe Milton went 8 of 15 for 92 yards in the first half. Three drives ended with Brandon Aubrey field goals of 49, 51, and 58. Aubrey missed wide right from 57. Brian Schottenheimer called the Milton-Howell race neck and neck.

Howell saved his best for last: 12 of 18, 155 yards, touchdowns of 26 yards to Jordan Hudson and 21 to Mitch Van Vooren, plus a tying two-point conversion run through tacklers. 24-24. After Carlson's kick, Howell picked up a first down, then threw four straight incompletions. Wilson knelt out the clock.

A brief skirmish followed Howell's two-point run. Isaac Yiadom drew unsportsmanlike conduct. The clubs had already been fined $500,000 apiece after a fight-filled joint practice in California 10 days earlier. Marist Liufau broke his left forearm in the first half. Schottenheimer said the linebacker can start the season on injured reserve.

AthX Engine, if this were a regular-season card

AthX Engine NFL scoring on Friday's verified lines:

Rattler's rushing touchdown is 6. White's 11-yard run is another rushing 6. Brown's 7-yard run scores. Carlson's 53-yard field goal pays the kicker distance table. Howell's two passing scores are 12 before yards. Aubrey's three makes (including 58) score; the miss from 57 does not. Preseason games are not stored as AthX Engine weekly lines yet.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay when Prescott and Shough are in September plans.

Track Prescott, Aubrey, Etienne, and both clubs on the marketplace. The Saints open at Detroit on Sept. 13. Dallas visits the Giants that night.

*Sources: ESPN recap, AP recap, Saints.com recap, NFL.com schedules. Information only; not financial advice.*