Milton’s Dual-Threat Performance Powers Cowboys Past Cardinals

A Dominant First Half Establishes Control

The Dallas Cowboys secured a decisive 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. The game was effectively defined in the opening two periods, where Dallas built an insurmountable lead behind a highly efficient offensive showing from Joe Milton III.

Milton, filling in for the Cowboys, completed 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. His impact was immediate, connecting with Malik Davis for an 8-yard touchdown pass to open scoring, followed by a 53-yard strike to Jonathan Mingo. Milton also contributed on the ground, rushing for a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

These three scores accounted for all 21 of Dallas's first-half points.

The Cardinals struggled to generate offense against the Cowboys' defense. Arizona’s starting quarterback, Gardner Minshew II, finished with 177 passing yards on 19-of-23 completion but threw one interception. The rushing attack was led by Evan Hull, who carried the ball 11 times for 51 yards. Simi Fehoko was the primary receiving target for Arizona, hauling in two passes for 42 yards.

Field Goals and Defensive Stops Define the Middle Frames

Arizona managed to put points on the board through kicker Chad Ryland. He connected on a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter to make it 14-3 and added a 31-yarder later in the period to bring the score to 21-6.

Brandon Aubrey, the Cowboys' kicker, was perfect from the field, adding a 50-yard kick in the second quarter and a 29-yarder in the third to extend Dallas's lead.

The Cardinals showed life in the third quarter when Corey Kiner punched in a 1-yard rushing touchdown. However, the offense could not sustain momentum, and the Cowboys’ defense held firm. Phil Mafah provided the final scoring punch for Dallas with a 15-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, sealing the win.

Statistical Breakdown and Final Result

While Milton’s passing numbers were efficient, the ground game also played a crucial role for Texas. Jaydon Blue led the Cowboys' rushing attack with 15 carries for 75 yards. In the receiving corps, Camden Brown was a key target for Milton, catching two passes for 77 yards.

The final score of 34-13 reflected the disparity in offensive execution throughout the contest. The Cowboys improved their record to 2-0, while the Cardinals fell to 1-2 after hosting the game before a crowd of 62,674.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401874101