Dallas closed their preseason schedule with a 31-13 victory over Atlanta on Friday night, August 22, 2025, at AT&T Stadium. Joe Milton III completed 10 of 18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another score, answering questions about his backup credentials with Tuesday’s roster deadline approaching. Easton Stick finished 20 of 28 for 198 yards with a touchdown and interception for the Falcons. The Cowboys converted all three red zone trips into touchdowns while Atlanta went 0 for 3, settling for field goals twice before getting stuffed at the goal line as time expired.
Table of Contents
Game Leaders
| Category | Falcons | Cowboys |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | E. Stick: 20/28, 198 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT | J. Milton III: 10/18, 132 yds, 1 TD |
| Rushing | E. Dotson: 12 car, 74 yds | D. Vaughn: 10 car, 42 yds |
| Receiving | N. Nash: 6 rec, 87 yds | R. Flournoy: 4 rec, 45 yds |
| Tackles | R. Harrison Jr.: 7 (3 solo) | M. Smith Jr.: 8 (4 solo) |
| Sacks | S. Barrow Jr.: 1.0 | J. Houston: 1.0 |
Quarterback Breakdown
Atlanta Falcons
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | SACKS | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easton Stick | 20/28 | 198 | 7.1 | 1 | 1 | 2-13 | 88.1 |
| Ben DiNucci | 0/2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0-0 | 0.0 |
| Team Total | 20/30 | 198 | 6.6 | 1 | 2 | 2-13 | 68.5 |
Dallas Cowboys
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | SACKS | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Milton III | 10/18 | 132 | 7.3 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 97.5 |
| Will Grier | 4/6 | 40 | 6.7 | 0 | 0 | 1-9 | 85.4 |
| Team Total | 14/24 | 172 | 7.2 | 1 | 0 | 1-9 | 94.4 |
Stick moved the chains between the 20s but threw two fourth-quarter interceptions that killed any comeback hopes. His 71% completion rate came against Atlanta’s reserves, which matters less than the decision-making breakdowns late. The veteran from North Dakota State serves as the third quarterback behind starters Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins, neither of whom dressed for this exhibition finale.
Milton’s 132 yards came against Atlanta’s reserves, but first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer wasn’t evaluating competition level. He needed to see decision-making after Milton threw an ugly interception against Baltimore and showed inconsistent accuracy against Houston. The 97.5 passer rating shows progress. Zero interceptions confirms it. Milton completed seven of ten passes for 95 yards from clean pockets, per Pro Football Focus post-game charting. He took what defenses gave him instead of forcing throws into coverage. His 29-yard touchdown to Jalen Brooks dropped perfectly over the defender’s shoulder, the kind of touch throw missing from his earlier tape. That’s the development Dallas needed to see before finalizing their depth chart behind Dak Prescott.
Ben DiNucci came in late and threw an interception on his first pass back in Dallas. The former seventh-round pick signed with Atlanta this week after bouncing around the league since 2020.
Ground Game Statistics
Atlanta Falcons
| Player | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elijah Dotson | 12 | 74 | 6.2 | 0 | 41 |
| Jashaun Corbin | 11 | 51 | 4.6 | 0 | 19 |
| Easton Stick | 3 | 18 | 6.0 | 0 | 12 |
| Nathan Carter | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 0 | 8 |
| Chris Blair | 1 | -6 | -6.0 | 0 | -6 |
| Team Total | 31 | 147 | 4.7 | 0 | 41 |
Dallas Cowboys
| Player | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deuce Vaughn | 10 | 42 | 4.2 | 0 | 12 |
| Joe Milton III | 4 | 33 | 8.3 | 1 | 18 |
| Jaydon Blue | 9 | 25 | 2.8 | 1 | 13 |
| Phil Mafah | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 1 | 15 |
| Will Grier | 3 | 4 | 1.3 | 0 | 3 |
| Malik Davis | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 |
| Team Total | 29 | 122 | 4.2 | 3 | 18 |
Dotson’s 41-yard burst came in garbage time with Dallas playing soft prevent coverage. The undrafted free agent from Southern finished with 74 yards on 12 carries, his best August performance as he fought for a practice squad spot. Corbin added 51 yards on 11 attempts, both backs running hard when Atlanta’s starters were already locked into their roster spots.
Milton’s legs opened Dallas’ offense early. He bulldozed into the end zone on a one-yard keeper to cap the opening drive, then ripped off 18 yards on a designed run that converted fourth and one in the third quarter. Two plays later he hit Brooks for the touchdown that put the game away. His ability to run and pass gives Dallas a mobile backup if Prescott needs rest during the season.
Blue’s promising debut got derailed by injury. The rookie from Texas punched in a one-yard score on his first preseason drive, showing the power that made him a fifth-round pick. Then his ankle rolled awkwardly in the second half, the same joint that cost him the first two weeks of August. He limped off and didn’t return, which raised serious questions about his availability for the September 4 opener at Philadelphia. The Cowboys needed to evaluate Blue after he missed two weeks of training camp, and now they’re monitoring another ankle injury with the regular season approaching.
Receiving Statistics
Atlanta Falcons
| Player | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | TGTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Nash | 6 | 87 | 14.5 | 0 | 24 | 9 |
| Chris Blair | 6 | 65 | 10.8 | 0 | 21 | 9 |
| Feleipe Franks | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 1 | 23 | 3 |
| Dylan Drummond | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Jesse Matthews | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| Elijah Dotson | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Jashaun Corbin | 1 | -4 | -4.0 | 0 | -4 | 2 |
Dallas Cowboys
| Player | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | TGTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Flournoy | 4 | 45 | 11.3 | 0 | 16 | 5 |
| Rivaldo Fairweather | 2 | 41 | 20.5 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| Jalen Brooks | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 1 | 29 | 3 |
| Traeshon Holden | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 0 | 13 | 4 |
| Jalen Cropper | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Princeton Fant | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Josh Kelly | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Tyler Neville | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
Six catches on nine targets. That’s what Nash needed to show Atlanta’s coaching staff before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. roster deadline. The 87 yards led all receivers and gave him three strong preseason performances to point to when roster decisions arrive. Blair matched that reception total, also on nine targets, both undrafted receivers making late pushes for the 53-man roster or practice squad spots.
Franks found himself wide open on a 23-yard touchdown when Dallas blew coverage in the second quarter. The tight end dove head-first over the goal line near the pylon, Atlanta’s only touchdown in a game where red zone execution separated the teams.
Flournoy hauled in four of his five targets, the kind of efficiency that matters when competing for a receiver spot behind CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and KaVontae Turpin. Brooks caught the game’s biggest pass play for a 29-yard score that pushed Dallas ahead 24-10 in the third quarter. His touchdown catch showed the downfield threat Dallas lacked in their first two preseason games. Fairweather averaged over 20 yards per catch on two deep balls, both coming on seam routes where he beat single coverage.
Defensive Performance
Atlanta Falcons
| Player | TOT | SOLO | SACKS | TFL | PD | QB HTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronnie Harrison Jr. | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Ford Jr. | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Henry Black | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zach Harrison | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Kubitz | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Thompson | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dee Alford | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Simeon Barrow Jr. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Dallas Cowboys
| Player | TOT | SOLO | SACKS | TFL | PD | QB HTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Smith Jr. | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Buddy Johnson | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robert Rochell | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Michael Ojemudia | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Barron | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darius Harris | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Shemar James | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| James Houston | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Perrion Winfrey | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Smith led all defenders with eight stops and played aggressively against the run. The Cowboys defense recorded six tackles for loss behind his active presence.
Rookie linebacker Shemar James made the game’s biggest defensive play. With Dallas holding a 24-13 lead and 10 minutes left, he jumped the route for an interception near midfield. He returned it 11 yards into Falcons territory, setting up a short field. Six plays later Mafah scored to ice the game at 31-13. James’ instincts showed on the pick, recognizing the pattern and breaking on the throw before Stick released.
DiNucci’s first pass against his former team ended in interception, with Rochell picking off a throw over the middle and returning it nine yards. The cornerback also broke up two passes, using his length to contest catches at the catch point.
Consistent pressure up the middle came from Winfrey, who recorded two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss. Houston brought down Stick for a seven-yard sack in the opening quarter and used his speed off the edge to beat Atlanta’s left tackle. Their ability to collapse the pocket without blitzing gave Dallas’ secondary time to cover.
Special Teams
Kicking
| Team | Player | FG | PCT | LONG | XP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Younghoe Koo | 2/3 | 66.7 | 38 | 1/1 | 7 |
| Cowboys | Brandon Aubrey | 1/1 | 100.0 | 64 | 4/4 | 7 |
Punting & Returns
| Team | Player | NO | YDS | AVG | TB | In 20 | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Bradley Pinion | 3 | 150 | 50.0 | 1 | 1 | 52 |
| Cowboys | Bryan Anger | 5 | 227 | 45.4 | 0 | 0 | 53 |
| Team | Player | Type | NO | YDS | AVG | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Natrone Brooks | KR | 2 | 55 | 27.5 | 31 |
| Falcons | Jashaun Corbin | KR | 2 | 47 | 23.5 | 26 |
| Cowboys | Jalen Cropper | PR | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 13 |
Aubrey’s 64-yard field goal as time expired in the first half gave Dallas a 17-10 lead at the break. The kick sailed through with yards to spare, nearly matching the 65-yarder he connected on during the 2024 regular season that came up one yard short of Justin Tucker’s NFL record. Aubrey’s leg strength gives the Cowboys range from anywhere inside midfield.
Koo missed wide left from 51 yards on Atlanta’s opening possession, extending his inconsistency from last season when he posted his worst field goal percentage as a Falcon. He converted kicks of 38 and 28 yards later, but the early miss set the tone for Atlanta’s struggles. Head coach Raheem Morris brought in competition for Koo during training camp after his 2024 performance.
Brooks averaged over 27 yards on two kickoff returns, and his speed in space gave Atlanta decent field position. Josh Woods delivered a crushing hit on Cropper during a first-half punt return and flew down the right sideline to drop the returner deep in Dallas territory. Woods’ ability to deliver crushing hits on punt coverage makes him valuable beyond defensive snaps.
Team Comparison
| Category | Falcons | Cowboys |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 332 | 285 |
| First Downs | 19 | 20 |
| Third Down | 7/14 (50.0%) | 4/11 (36.4%) |
| Fourth Down | 0/1 (0.0%) | 1/1 (100.0%) |
| Time of Possession | 33:28 | 26:32 |
| Penalties | 8-77 | 11-85 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Red Zone | 0/3 (0.0%) | 3/3 (100.0%) |
Atlanta outgained Dallas by 47 yards and controlled possession for seven more minutes, but those numbers hide why this game was never close.
Red zone efficiency: Cowboys 3 for 3, Falcons 0 for 3. Turnovers: Cowboys 0, Falcons 2. Those two categories decide close games once the regular season starts, and Dallas dominated both in this exhibition finale.
Scoring Breakdown
| Quarter/Time | Scoring Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1Q – 7:42 | J. Milton 1-yd run (Aubrey kick) | Cowboys 7-0 |
| 1Q – 1:19 | J. Blue 1-yd run (Aubrey kick) | Cowboys 14-0 |
| 2Q – 10:45 | Y. Koo 38-yd FG | Cowboys 14-3 |
| 2Q – 0:48 | F. Franks 23-yd pass from E. Stick (Koo kick) | Cowboys 14-10 |
| 2Q – 0:00 | B. Aubrey 64-yd FG | Cowboys 17-10 |
| 3Q – 12:24 | J. Brooks 29-yd pass from J. Milton (Aubrey kick) | Cowboys 24-10 |
| 4Q – 14:10 | Y. Koo 28-yd FG | Cowboys 24-13 |
| 4Q – 7:53 | P. Mafah 1-yd run (Aubrey kick) | Cowboys 31-13 |
What Was at Stake
Neither team risked their starters in this preseason finale. For Dallas, Milton’s evaluation dominated the storyline after the Cowboys let Cooper Rush walk in free agency and acquired Milton via trade from New England. First-year coach Brian Schottenheimer, who also calls plays, challenged Milton to perform better after rough outings against Houston and Baltimore. For Atlanta, Raheem Morris described this as “a big roster game” where bubble players got extended reps before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.
Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins watched from the sideline while Stick took every snap until DiNucci replaced him late. Neither Atlanta quarterback needed preseason reps with their roster spots locked. Instead, the Falcons gave playing time to receivers like Nash and Blair, running backs like Dotson and Carter, and defensive backs fighting for practice squad spots. Milton responded to Schottenheimer’s challenge by leading touchdown drives on Dallas’ first two possessions. He scored on a one-yard keeper after a nine-play, 59-yard march, then handed off to Blue for another one-yard score after an eight-play, 75-yard drive. Those early touchdowns gave Dallas breathing room and allowed Milton to play his game without pressing.
His third-quarter performance sealed the evaluation. Facing fourth and one at his own 44, Milton took a designed keeper left and ripped off 18 yards, extending the drive. Two plays later he dropped the 29-yard touchdown pass to Brooks, showing the touch and accuracy missing from his earlier preseason tape. Schottenheimer pulled him after that series with Dallas ahead 24-10, Milton’s work done for the summer.
Red Zone Execution
Three trips inside the 20, zero touchdowns. Atlanta’s red zone failures defined this game more than any yardage total. The Falcons marched into Dallas territory repeatedly but couldn’t finish drives when the field compressed.
The final sequence summarized their night. Atlanta drove 73 yards on nine plays over four minutes to reach first and goal at the four with under two minutes left. Dotson gained three yards on first down, setting up second and goal from the one. He gained one more yard. Third down from the one: two more yards, pushing him to the three. Fourth and one from the one: Dallas stuffed him at the line to preserve the shutout in the red zone.
Dallas went 3 for 3 inside the 20, punching in touchdowns on Milton’s run, Blue’s score, and Mafah’s fourth-quarter plunge. The difference? Physical execution at the goal line versus settling for field position. Dallas’ goal-line success will matter when games count in the standings.
Roster Implications
Chris Blair caught six passes on nine targets for 65 yards. The undrafted receiver from Fresno State must convince coaches by Tuesday that he deserves a roster spot over veterans like Ray-Ray McCloud. His 21-yard grab in the third quarter showed contested catch ability that Atlanta values in depth receivers.
Mazi Smith played deep into the third quarter despite being a projected starter at defensive tackle. The former first-round pick recorded three tackles and showed improved push against the run, but the extended playing time suggests Dallas needs more consistency before committing to him as a Week 1 starter opposite better options on the depth chart.
Josh Thompson left briefly for evaluation in the first quarter but returned after medical staff checked him in the blue tent. His availability for the opener never looked in doubt. Jake Hanson limped off in the fourth quarter after a run play, waving off DiNucci when the quarterback tried to help him up before trainers assisted him to the sideline. The backup offensive lineman’s status remains unclear.
The Parsons Situation
Micah Parsons remained the biggest storyline despite not playing. The star pass rusher dressed in a hoodie and stayed in the background on the sideline after scrubbing all Cowboys references from his social media amid a contract dispute. At one point he laid on a training table behind the bench with his eyes closed, his body language showing a player mentally checked out while teammates competed.
Parsons asked for a trade earlier in August and wants a long-term deal beyond his $24 million salary for the final year of his rookie contract. The 2021 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year didn’t practice during training camp, his contract stalemate dominating Dallas headlines through August. His presence at the game but refusal to engage suggests the dispute will carry into September.
September Openers
The Cowboys host defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia on September 4 in the Thursday night NFL opener. Dallas split last year’s season series with the Eagles, winning at home before dropping the road game in December. The NFC East rivalry opens both teams’ schedules, putting extra pressure on Milton’s backup credentials if Prescott needs rest.
Atlanta opens at home against Tampa Bay on September 7 in a division matchup. The Buccaneers won the NFC South last season and swept the Falcons in their two meetings, making this home opener critical for early playoff positioning in the division race.
Roster cuts arrive Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern Time, giving teams three days to finalize their 53-man rosters. Nash’s six catches and Blair’s 65 yards are the final evidence they’ll submit when roster decisions arrive Tuesday. Flournoy’s four receptions on five targets and Dotson’s 74 rushing yards carry the same weight. The preseason statistics matter less than the evaluations they informed, and both coaching staffs now face the hardest decisions of the summer.
This preseason finale between the Cowboys and Falcons in late August showed the gap between teams that execute in critical situations and teams that move the ball without scoring touchdowns. Red zone efficiency and turnover margin separate winners from losers once games count in the standings, and Dallas dominated both categories on this Friday night in Arlington.
For complete play-by-play and official statistics, view the full NFL gamebook.
