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

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints finished the preseason without about as much clarity with their backup quarterbacks as they had at the start of training camp.

Which is to say not much, at least as far as what coaches Kellen Moore and Brian Schottenheimer are revealing.

Zach Wilson led a drive to Daniel Carlson’s 53-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining, and the Saints beat the Dallas Cowboys 27-24 on Friday night.

Sam Howell threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes and had a tying 2-point conversion run for the Cowboys (2-1), who erased a 15-point deficit but missed out on their first undefeated preseason in 20 years.

Spencer Rattler scored on an 8-yard keeper to the pylon while directing three first-half scoring drives for the Saints (1-2), who avoided their first winless preseason since 2015.

Both teams got their last live looks at their respective competitions for the backup QB job — behind Tyler Shough in New Orleans and Dallas’ Dak Prescott.

Joe Milton, who backed up Prescott last year, was less efficient than in his first two preseason games. Still, he might have done enough in those to keep his job over Howell, an offseason free agent addition.

“It’s neck and neck,” Schottenheimer said. “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.”

Milton went 8 of 15 for 92 yards in the first half, with three drives that ended in field goals by Brandon Aubrey. Dallas’ powerful kicker had field goals of 49, 51 and 58 yards while missing wide right from 57.

In preseason victories over Seattle and Arizona, Milton was 21 of 28 for 286 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

Howell saved his best for last against the Saints, going 12 of 18 for 155 yards with TDs of 26 yards to Jordan Hudson and 21 yards to Mitch Van Vooren. His tying 2-point was a testament to his will, taking on multiple tacklers at the goal line.

Howell had one more chance to rally the Cowboys and picked up another first down before four consecutive incompletions clinched the win for the Saints in the final minute.

There wasn’t much to separate Rattler and Wilson in the first two games, and that formula held in the finale. Rattler was 8 of 10 for 79 yards in the finale, while Wilson went 9 of 12 for 93 yards.

After Rattler’s efficient first half, Wilson opened the second half by leading a drive that ended with Zamir White’s 11-yard scoring run.

“Both these guys are capable of playing and being really successful quarterbacks,” Moore said. “Spencer and Zach are going to provide excellent depth for us.”

Audric Estime, who is battling Kendre Miller to back up running back Travis Etienne Jr., set up Rattler’s TD with a 33-yard run and finished with four carries for 46 yards. Miller had nine carries for 42 yards.

Barion Brown, a rookie sixth-round pick trying to take advantage of a chance to contribute at receiver with first-round pick Jordyn Tyson sidelined by a hamstring injury, scored the first touchdown on a 7-yard run.

Some late pushing and shoving

There was a brief skirmish in the end zone after Howell’s 2-point conversion run. It resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom.

The preseason meeting between these teams came 10 days after their fight-filled joint practice at the Cowboys’ training camp facility in California. Both teams were fined $500,000 over that episode.

Injuries

Schottenheimer said Cowboys LB Marist Liufau broke his left forearm in the first half. He is a third-year player whose roster spot might have been in jeopardy, but now Liufau can start the season on injured reserve.

Up next

Both teams open the regular season on the road Sept. 13. The Saints play Detroit, and Dallas has the NFC East rival New York Giants in prime time.

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