Joe Milton continued to impress in his pursuit of the Dallas Cowboys' backup quarterback position, leading the team to a 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. In a strong performance, Milton threw two touchdown passes and added a rushing score, furthering his competition with Sam Howell for the No. 2 role behind Dak Prescott.
Milton completed 9 of 13 passes for 176 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown connection with Jonathan Mingo and a 70-yard pass to Camden Brown, which set up his own 1-yard touchdown run. Coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged Milton's strong play but emphasized that the competition for the backup role is ongoing, stating, "This is long from over."
The Cowboys built a 24-6 lead by halftime, with Jaydon Blue contributing 75 rushing yards on 15 carries. Howell, who started all 17 games for Washington in 2023, completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards in the second half but threw an interception in the end zone.
Milton's performance came after a solid outing the previous week, and Schottenheimer noted that Milton has been able to control the speed and touch of his throws effectively. Defensively, the Cowboys shined early, with cornerback Shavon Revel intercepting a pass from Gardner Minshew, which set up an early touchdown.
The Cardinals faced challenges, including two touchdowns being called back due to penalties on receiver Rivaldo Fairweather. Coach Mike LaFleur commented on the team's struggles, saying, "It was a summary of that week in general."
