Zach Wilson leads winning drive for Saints, who are unsettled at backup QB along with Cowboys

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Zach Wilson led a drive to Daniel Carlson's 53-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining, and the New Orleans Saints beat the Dallas Cowboys 27-24 in a preseason finale Friday night.

Sam Howell threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes and had a tying 2-point conversion run for the Cowboys (2-1), who erased a 15-point deficit but missed out on their first undefeated preseason in 20 years.

Spencer Rattler scored on an 8-yard keeper to the pylon while directing three first-half scoring drives for the Saints (1-2), who avoided their first winless preseason since 2015.

Both teams got their last live looks at their respective competitions for the backup job at quarterback — behind Tyler Shough in New Orleans and Dallas' Dak Prescott.

Joe Milton, who backed up Prescott last year, was less efficient than in his first two preseason games. Still, he might have done enough in those to keep his job over Howell, an offseason free agent addition.

Milton went 8 of 15 for 92 yards in the first half, with three drives that ended in field goals by Brandon Aubrey. Dallas' powerful kicker had field goals of 49, 51 and 58 yards while missing wide right from 57.

In preseason victories over Seattle and Arizona, Milton was 21 of 28 for 286 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Howell saved his best for last, going 12 of 18 for 155 yards with TDs of 26 yards to Jordan Hudson and 21 yards to Mitch Van Vooren.

There wasn't much to separate Rattler and Wilson in the first two games, and that formula held in the finale. Rattler was 8 of 10 for 79 yards in the finale, while Wilson went 9 of 12 for 93 yards.

Audric Estime, who is battling Kendre Miller to back up running back Travis Etienne Jr., set up Rattler's TD with a 33-yard run and finished with four carries for 46 yards. Miller had nine carries for 42 yards.

Barion Brown, a rookie sixth-round pick trying to take advantage of a chance to contribute at receiver with first-round pick Jordyn Tyson sidelined by a hamstring injury, scored the first touchdown on a 7-yard run.

There was a brief skirmish in the end zone after Howell's 2-point conversion run. It resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom.

The preseason meeting between these teams came 10 days after their fight-filled joint practice at the Cowboys' training camp facility in California. Both teams were fined $500,000 over that episode.

Cowboys LB Marist Liufau, a third-year player whose roster spot could in jeopardy, injured a wrist in the first half and didn't return.

Both teams open the regular season on the road Sept. 13. The Saints play Detroit, and Dallas has the NFC East rival New York Giants in prime time.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Barion Brown (19) celebrates a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III (10) throws against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Zach Wilson (4) throws against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half a preseason NFL football game, in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) scores a touchdown in front of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Isaiah Land (58) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer celebrates with quarterback Sam Howell (16) after a two-point conversion against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt homered, left fielder Cody Bellinger threw out the potential tying run at home plate to end the seventh inning and the New York Yankees edged the Boston Red Sox 1-0 on Friday night in the opener of a pivotal four-game series.

Cam Schlittler (12-6) shut down his hometown team again, striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings of two-hit ball. The right-hander from Massachusetts overcame five walks, which matched a career high, as the Red Sox went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 overall.

They also cost themselves with a terrible baserunning blunder by Ceddanne Rafaela, who got doubled off first as the trail runner when Wilyer Abreu lined out to center field — ending the fifth with cleanup batter Willson Contreras on deck.

New York remained four games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East and moved three ahead of Boston in the race for the top American League wild card and home-field advantage throughout a potential best-of-three playoff series between the longtime rivals.

Such a matchup would be a reprisal of last year, when Schlittler pitched a Game 3 gem as a rookie to send the Yankees on. Schlittler, who surpassed 200 strikeouts this season and leads the AL with a 2.09 ERA, is 3-1 with a 0.56 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings over five career starts against Boston — including the postseason.

In a nip-and-tuck game with a playoff feel, Boston put runners at second and third with one out in the seventh when Rafaela singled and Abreu doubled on the first two pitches from reliever Paul Blackburn.

Contreras lofted a fly to left and Bellinger cut down Rafaela at the plate with a 99.7 mph throw.

Blackburn worked a 1-2-3 eighth and David Bednar pitched a perfect ninth for his 31st save.

With the Yankees facing a left-handed starter for the first time since Aug. 8 (excluding openers), Goldschmidt batted leadoff and launched a 430-foot homer to left off hard-luck loser Patrick Sandoval (1-3) in the third.

A day-night doubleheader Saturday to make up a June 6 rainout. Max Fried (4-4, 2.81 ERA) will come off the injured list to start the second game for the Yankees, with fellow left-hander Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.15) taking the ball in Game 1. Rookie LHP Jake Bennett (8-6, 3.49) pitches the opener for the Red Sox, who had not announced a Game 2 starter.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Boston Red Sox' Ceddanne Rafaela is tagged out by New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells at home plate on a double play during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Boston Red Sox' Ceddanne Rafaela is tagged out by New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells at home plate on a double play during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees right fielder Spencer Jones, left fielder Cody Bellinger, and center fielder Trent Grisham, right to left, celebrate with teammates after winning a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)