Joe Milton accounts for 2 TDs as
Cowboys beat Falcons 31-13 in preseason finale
[August 23, 2025]
By SCHUYLER DIXON
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Joe Milton ran for a touchdown and threw for
a score to help the Dallas Cowboys beat the Atlanta Falcons 31-13 in
the preseason finale for both teams Friday night.
Slow starts in the first two exhibition games left questions about
whether Milton was the answer as the backup to star quarterback Dak
Prescott after the Cowboys let Cooper Rush go in free agency and
acquired Milton in a trade with New England.
Milton might have eased some concerns for first-year coach Brian
Schottenheimer, who is also the play-caller, by leading touchdown
drives on Dallas' first two possessions. The first was capped by his
1-yard scoring run, the second by a 1-yard plunge from rookie
running back Jaydon Blue in his first preseason action.
On the first drive of the second half, Milton converted a
fourth-and-1 by going 18 yards on a designed run, then threw a
29-yard touchdown to Jalen Brooks two plays later for a 24-10 Dallas
lead. Will Grier took over from there as Milton finished 10 of 18
for 132 yards.
“He got off to a good start,” Schottenheimer said. “He was having
fun. He used his legs. Beautiful throw to (Brooks) on the go ball.
He looked a lot more comfortable and settled tonight.”
Both teams sat nearly every starter, and the Falcons once again
didn't play Michael Penix Jr. or backup Kirk Cousins. Easton Stick
threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Feleipe Franks, who was
wide open underneath because of a blown coverage and went head-first
over the goal line near the pylon.
Blue, who missed two weeks of training camp with an ankle and heel
injury, exited the game with an ankle injury in the second half and
didn't return.
Stick threw his second interception in three preseason starts and
finished 20 of 28 for 198 yards.
Atlanta's Younghoe Koo converted field goals of 38 and 28 yards
after missing from 51 early.
Disgruntled star
Dallas pass rusher Micah Parsons was present but noticeably
disinterested. After scrubbing all references to the Cowboys in his
social media profiles amid a contract stalemate, the 2021 AP NFL
Defensive Rookie of the Year wasn't showing his No. 11. Instead, he
was dressed in a hoodie and stayed in the background on the
sideline.
At one point, Parsons was lying on a training table behind the
bench, his eyes closed at least part of the time. He didn't practice
during training camp and asked for a trade early this month. Parsons
is set to make $24 million in the final year of his rookie contract
but wants a long-term deal.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III throws a pass against the
Atlanta Falcons during the first half of a preseason NFL football
game Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony
Gutierrez)
Big hit
Josh Woods had a huge hit for the Falcons on Jalen Cropper's punt
return in the first half, and Elijah Dotson started their final
drive with a 41-yard run before getting stuffed on fourth down from
the Dallas 1 in the final minute. Dotson had 74 yards on 12 carries.
“These games, you get a chance to see some real, live special teams
plays,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “You got a chance to see a
big-time hit by Josh. Dotson came in and got a couple of big runs
there in the second half. Those are always good moments to see.”
Rude welcome
Ben DiNucci, whose only NFL start came as a rookie seventh-round
draft choice by the Cowboys in 2020, threw an interception on his
first pass against his former team when he replaced Stick midway
through the fourth quarter. Robert Rochell had the pick. DiNucci
signed with the Falcons this week.
Still kicking from deep
Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey made a 64-yard field goal on the final
play of the first half. He connected from 65 yards during the 2024
regular season, 1 yard shy of Justin Tucker's NFL record from 2021.
Aubrey made the kick with yards to spare. It looked like it could
have matched the 70-yarder from Jacksonville's Cam Little in a 31-25
loss to Pittsburgh on Aug. 9.
Up next
The Cowboys play the NFL opener at defending Super Bowl champion and
NFC East rival Philadelphia on Sept. 4. The Falcons also open with a
division game, facing defending NFC South champion Tampa Bay at home
Sept. 7.
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