The 2026 preseason concluded for the New Orleans Saints on Friday when they traveled to take on the Dallas Cowboys. The visiting Black and Gold never trailed and secured the 27-24 win with a defensive play in the final minute. The win was the Saints’ lone of the preseason.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
It was an explosive start to the game with both teams scoring on their first two drives.
The Saints received the opening kickoff and went 47 yards in seven plays, resulting in a 38-yard Daniel Carlson field goal. Spencer Rattler completed back-to-back 15-yard passes to running back Kendre Miller and rookie wide receiver Bryce Lance on the possession. Dallas didn’t take long to respond on their opening drive, tying the game with a 49-yard kick by Brandon Aubrey after the offense picked up 34 yards in eight plays.
New Orleans reclaimed the lead late in the first quarter. Rookie Barion Brown capped off the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run on an end around that put the Black and Gold ahead 10-3 with 3:06 left in the first quarter. Miller and Audric Estime combined for 35 yards on the ground during the scoring drive.
Much like their first possession, the Cowboys made another field goal. Starting quarterback Joe Milton III completed a 27-yard pass down the sideline to Camden Brown. Phil Mafah also had a 10-yard run before Aubrey made a 51-yard kick.
Aubrey couldn’t go three-for-three, missing a 57-yard attempt and setting up New Orleans with a short field. The Saints went 53 yards in six plays as Estime broke away for a 33-yard run before Rattler rolled out right and reached pay dirt for an eight-yard score ahead of the two-minute warning. Aubrey redeemed himself 23 seconds before the half with a 58-yard field goal.
The Saints went into the half with a 17-9 lead.
Zach Wilson subbed in at quarterback for the Black and Gold to begin the second half, and he connected with Ronnie Bell for a 23-yard completion on his first pass attempt. That set up an 11-yard touchdown run by newly acquired running back Zamir White, giving the Saints a two-score advantage.
Dallas then scored touchdowns on consecutive drives to eventually tie the ballgame. It began when Dallas QB Sam Howell hit Jordan Hudson for a 52-yard gain and went to him again two plays later for the 26-yard score. After a New Orleans three-and-out, Dallas went 67 yards in 12 plays that resulted in a 21-yard touchdown catch by Mitch Van Vooren. Howell rushed for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 24 with 6:11 left in the fourth quarter.
The Saints put together one more scoring drive to once again take back the lead. The offense went 44 yards in eight plays as Wilson completed multiple passes of at least 10 yards. Carlson then knocked through a 53-yard field with under two minutes to play to put the Black and Gold ahead by three.
Dallas failed to score on their final possession when cornerback Isaac Yidaom broke up Howell’s pass on fourth down. The Saints went into victory formation and came out on top, 27-24, winning their first and final preseason game of the 2026 season.
BIG NUMBER: 748
It was 748 days ago when New Orleans won a preseason game. The win came on August 10th, 2024, when the Saints beat the Arizona Cardinals 16-14.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Isaiah Stalbird
The Saints linebacker led the game in tackles with eight(four solo) and recorded one of the team’s two sacks as the Saints won 27-24 on Friday evening.
UP NEXT: The regular season for the New Orleans Saints will begin on Sunday, September 13th when the Black and Gold will travel to Detroit to take on the Lions. Kickoff from Ford Field is scheduled for noon.