Carlson's 53-Yard Kick Lifts Saints Over Cowboys in Preseason Thriller

A Decisive Finish in Arlington

The New Orleans Saints secured a narrow 27-24 preseason victory against the Dallas Cowboys, with the outcome hanging in the balance until the final seconds. The game remained tightly contested through three quarters, featuring offensive struggles for both squads before Daniel Carlson’s 53-yard field goal provided the margin of difference in the closing moments.

Dallas hosted the contest at AT&T Stadium on Saturday, August 29, 2026, before a crowd of 81,295. The Saints (1-2) and Cowboys (2-1) traded early scoring drives that highlighted the inefficiency typical of exhibition play. New Orleans took the first lead in the opening period when Barion Brown rushed for seven yards, followed by a kick from Tanner Brown, pushing the score to 10-3.

First Half Struggles and Field Goals

The Cowboys responded with precision kicking from Brandon Aubrey, who connected on field goals of 49 and 58 yards in the first half. Spencer Rattler also contributed a rushing touchdown from eight yards out in the second period, assisted by a kick from Charlie Smyth, to extend New Orleans' advantage to 17-9 at halftime.

Dallas attempted to chip away at the deficit through Aubrey’s 51-yard field goal late in the second quarter, making the score 17-6 before Rattler's touchdown. The Saints added to their lead early in the third quarter as Zamir White rushed for 11 yards, with Daniel Carlson adding the extra point to make it 24-9.

Fourth Quarter Rally Falls Short

The fourth quarter saw Dallas mount a significant comeback attempt behind quarterback Sam Howell. Howell completed 12 of 18 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. His first connection went to Jordan Hudson, who caught a 26-yard pass to bring the Cowboys within seven points.

Dallas then tied the game at 24-24 when Howell found Mitch Van Vooren on a 21-yard pass and executed a two-point conversion run. The momentum appeared to shift in favor of the home team, but New Orleans' defense held firm during critical moments.

Key Performances and Final Result

While Dallas relied on Howell's passing and Phil Mafah’s 46 rushing yards on 12 carries, it was the Saints' special teams that ultimately decided the game. Carlson’s 53-yard kick in the fourth period proved to be the difference-maker.

For New Orleans, Zach Wilson managed the offense with a 9-of-12 passing performance for 93 yards. Audric Estime provided ground support with 46 rushing yards on four carries, while Ronnie Bell led the receiving corps with six catches for 65 yards. The Cowboys' Hudson finished as the top receiver with four receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown.

The loss drops New Orleans to 1-2, while Dallas improves to 2-1 in the early season standings.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401874048