Zach Wilson leads winning drive for Saints, who are unsettled at backup QB along with Cowboys

In a preseason finale on Friday night, the New Orleans Saints emerged victorious over the Dallas Cowboys with a score of 27-24, thanks to the impressive performance of rookie quarterback Zach Wilson. The game marked the Saints' first win since 2015, while the Cowboys fell to their second consecutive loss. Quarterback Sam Howell contributed to the Cowboys' resurgence by throwing two touchdown passes and a successful 2-point conversion in the final quarter, helping erase a 15-point deficit they faced early on.

Spencer Rattler, the Saints' running back, had a pivotal role in the game, scoring on an 8-yard keeper while orchestrating three successful first-half scoring drives. The Cowboys, who were vying for the backup quarterback position, saw their star players Tyler Shough in New Orleans and Dak Prescott in Dallas battle it out. Joe Milton, who took on Prescott's backup role last year, seemed to have a solid preseason, going 8 of 15 for 92 yards in the opening half and connecting on three field goals.

Dallas' potent kicker Brandon Aubrey kicked field goals of 49, 51, and 58 yards, but he missed a crucial 57-yard attempt. In previous games, Milton proved efficient, showcasing a 21-of-28 completion rate with three touchdowns against Seattle and Arizona. This time around, Howell shined in the second half, completing 12 of 18 passes for 155 yards with two touchdowns. Quarterback Wilson, on the other hand, had a similarly solid outing, completing 9 of 12 passes for 93 yards.

Running back Spencer Rattler and rookie receiver Barion Brown played significant roles in the Saints' victory, with Rattler setting up Brown's first touchdown on a 7-yard run. The game also saw a brief altercation between players near the end zone, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom.

The preseason encounter between these teams came 10 days after a heated joint practice at the Cowboys' training camp in California, leading to a $500,000 fine for both teams. Both teams will kick off their regular season on September 13, with the Saints heading to Detroit and the Cowboys facing the New York Giants in prime time.