Howell vs. Milton: Cowboys QB2 Battle Stays Tight

The Dallas Cowboys don’t have a clear answer in the race to back up Dak Prescott after the first game of the preseason, but Sam Howell and Joe Milton gave them some things to think about.

Sam Howell played the first half against the Seattle Seahawks and Joe Milton took over after halftime. Both threw a touchdown, and moved the offense while neither gave Dallas much reason to move on from either of them.

Howell finished 8 of 12 for 94 yards. Milton went 12 of 15 for 107.

I don’t know how you get much more even on paper. What I think mattered more was how each quarterback got there.

Sam Howell Looked Comfortable

Sam Howell played like a guy who had been through NFL games before and that veteran savvy kept him going in the first half.

We watched as he got the ball out quick and took what Seattle gave him. He used his legs when the chance was there. I think his best stretch was late in the second quarter when Dallas went 65 yards in seven plays.

Howell converted a 3rd and 7 with his legs, then came back and found Camden Brown for a 39-yard touchdown. Obviously, the touchdown was the highlight, but the whole drive told me something.

Sam Howell didn’t look rushed, he didn’t force the ball downfield when the clock was ticking down. I thought he handled the situation perfectly and moved the chains to finish the drive.

I feel like that’s what Dallas needs in a backup quarterback.

If Prescott misses time, I don’t want the Cowboys to need someone who does everything Dak does. I want someone who can keep the offense from going off the rails. Just get the ball to the playmakers, and don’t get fancy.

Sam Howell has started 18 NFL games, and you could see that experience in the Seahawks game.

Joe Milton Gave Dallas Something to Think About

Joe Milton is so much different than Sam Howell.

The arm strength is insane. Everybody that has ever watched him play knows he can make throws most quarterbacks can’t.

The big question mark that follows Milton around is, can he handle the boring stuff well enough to be trusted every week. Against Seattle, I thought he did a much better job of that.

Milton completed 12 of 15 passes and led Dallas on a 13-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter. But the play I liked the most wasn’t the touchdown.

The play that I finally saw the maturity kick in was when Seattle brought pressure, and Milton stayed in the pocket and hit Anthony Smith for 23 yards.

I want to see more of these kinds of throws.

It showed me he could stay put, read the pressure and deliver the ball instead of bailing out or trying to create something that wasn’t there.

Dallas knows what Milton looks like when everything is clean, and he can show off his arm. The Cowboys need to see more of him under pressure when the pocket starts to shrink.

The Seattle game gave them a better picture than they had before.

The Cowboys Will Have a Decision to Make

I feel like if Dallas had to pick a backup quarterback today, Sam Howell would be the guy, but not by much.

The NFL starter experience gives me a little more trust if the Cowboys suddenly need someone to finish a game or start on short notice.

Joe Milton is closing the gap and that’s why I think the Seattle game was important. He didn’t need to throw a 70-yard bomb to help his case. He needed to show he could handle the offense and make the easy, normal throws.

Gotta take baby steps before you walk, you know.

He did that.

Dallas may have a little more confidence in Sam Howell right now, but Joe Milton finally showed a reason to keep the door open.

No clear winner yet, and after Seattle, there shouldn’t be one yet.