Saints Edge Cowboys 27-24 as Sam Howell Sparks Late Rally

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Dallas Cowboys 27-24 on Friday night, building a 24-9 lead through three quarters before Sam Howell’s two-touchdown passing performance fueled a Dallas rally that finished three points short.

In a Week 4 preseason matchup at AT&T Stadium, New Orleans established control early and made its scoring bursts stand up. The Saints opened with a 10-3 first quarter, extended their advantage to 17-9 by halftime, and added another touchdown in the third to take a 24-9 lead into the final period. Dallas finally found its best rhythm late, outscoring New Orleans 15-3 in the fourth quarter, but the Saints had already created enough separation to leave Arlington with the win.

The final quarter provided the game’s most compelling tension. Dallas had been blanked in the third quarter and trailed by 15 entering the fourth, yet kept pushing after New Orleans added three more points. The Cowboys produced 15 points in the final 15 minutes, turning a comfortable Saints advantage into a one-score finish. There was no overtime, though, and New Orleans closed out the 27-24 result in regulation.

Key Performers

Howell delivered the top passing line of the night for Dallas, completing 12 of 18 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. The efficient outing gave the Cowboys the production needed to mount their late push, averaging 8.6 yards per attempt while accounting for both of Dallas’ passing scores.

Wide receiver Jordan Hudson was Howell’s most productive target, recording four receptions for 97 yards and one touchdown. Hudson averaged 24.3 yards per catch, supplying the Cowboys with the kind of downfield impact that can quickly change a preseason game’s complexion. On the ground, Phil Mafah led Dallas with 12 carries for 46 yards, providing steady work as the Cowboys tried to keep their offense balanced.

NerdSports Stat: The Saints led 24-9 after three quarters, but Dallas won the fourth quarter 15-3 and still came up one score short.

For New Orleans, the result was built on the value of its first three quarters. A 10-point opening period gave the Saints an early cushion, and their seven-point third quarter was especially important after Dallas had trimmed the halftime deficit to eight points. In preseason football, those stretches matter: a team that consistently converts scoring opportunities early can withstand the inevitable personnel changes and momentum swings later in the game.

The Saints improve to 1-2 in the preseason, while the Cowboys fall to 2-1. With the regular season nearing, New Orleans will host the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 13, while Dallas will welcome the New York Giants later that day. This result will not affect the division standings, but it gives both teams valuable evaluation material before the games start counting.

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