Dallas Rallies After Early Deficit as Rookie Receiver Scores Twice
The Dallas Cowboys opened their 2026 NFL preseason with a 17-7 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night at Lumen Field, overcoming an early seven-point deficit behind a strong performance from rookie wide receiver Camden Brown and efficient play from quarterbacks Sam Howell and Joe Milton III.
The game was played on Aug. 15 in Seattle, with some score displays listing Aug. 16 because of time-zone presentation. The result officially moved Dallas to 1-0 in the preseason while Seattle dropped to 0-1.
For much of the opening quarter, Seattle appeared to have the better start. With Sam Darnold sitting out, Drew Lock took the majority of the early quarterback work and guided the Seahawks on an impressive 13-play, 80-yard opening possession. The drive ended when Lock connected with Montorie Foster Jr. for a 5-yard touchdown, giving Seattle a 7-0 advantage.
Seattle's early success, however, did not carry through the remainder of the night.
Camden Brown Becomes Dallas' Biggest Offensive Story
The defining individual performance belonged to Brown, the undrafted rookie who began his college career at Auburn before transferring to Georgia Southern. Brown demonstrated both big-play ability and strong hands, finishing with three receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns.
His first touchdown came in the second quarter when Sam Howell found him for a 39-yard scoring strike. The play gave Dallas its first touchdown of the game and put the Cowboys ahead 10-7 after Brandon Aubrey had previously converted a 29-yard field goal.
Brown struck again immediately after halftime.
On Dallas' first drive of the third quarter, Joe Milton III delivered a 2-yard fade into the back corner of the end zone, where Brown made the catch for his second touchdown of the night. The score extended Dallas' advantage to 17-7 and ultimately proved to be the final touchdown of the game.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer praised Brown's performance after the game, noting that the rookie had already been making plays consistently during training camp. The preseason opener gave Brown an opportunity to show that his production could translate from practice into live NFL action.
Howell and Milton Deliver Efficient Quarterback Play
The Cowboys also received encouraging performances from both quarterbacks competing for the backup role behind Dak Prescott.
Howell started the game and completed 8 of 12 passes for 94 yards and one touchdown, with no interceptions. Milton followed by completing 12 of 15 attempts for 107 yards and one touchdown, also without an interception. Together, they completed 20 of 27 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
The efficiency was particularly notable because neither Dallas quarterback threw an interception or was charged with a sack. Milton finished with a 118.6 passer rating, while Howell posted a 118.1 rating.
Dallas also generated 137 rushing yards on 36 attempts. Malik Davis led the Cowboys with 39 rushing yards on seven carries, while Israel Abanikanda added 36 yards on seven attempts. Jaydon Blue, who is competing for a backup running-back role, managed 19 yards on eight carries.
Seahawks Struggle to Sustain Offensive Momentum
Seattle's offense became increasingly quiet after the opening scoring drive.
Lock completed 9 of 13 passes for only 40 yards and one touchdown, while Jalen Milroe completed 5 of 8 attempts for 36 yards. Milroe also rushed five times for 36 yards, including a 20-yard run, but the Seahawks could not turn his mobility into sustained scoring opportunities.
The Seahawks finished with only 76 receiving yards, compared with 201 receiving yards for Dallas. Foster led Seattle's receivers with five catches for 36 yards and the opening touchdown. Jake Bobo added three receptions for 13 yards.
On the ground, George Holani led Seattle with 42 yards on 12 carries. Milroe's 36 rushing yards made him the team's second-leading rusher. Seattle finished with 107 rushing yards, giving the Seahawks 183 combined rushing and passing yards before accounting for sack yardage.
The Seahawks were also missing several running backs, including Zach Charbonnet, Emanuel Wilson and first-round rookie Jadarian Price, who sat out with injuries.
Seattle's Defense Has a Bright Spot in Tyrice Knight
Despite the loss, linebacker Tyrice Knight delivered one of Seattle's strongest individual performances.
Knight recorded a game-high 10 tackles, all coming in the first half. His activity stood out on a night when Seattle's defense struggled to consistently disrupt Dallas' quarterbacks.
The Seahawks recorded no sacks, while Dallas registered three. Seattle's inability to pressure Howell and Milton allowed both Cowboys quarterbacks to operate efficiently, particularly on the scoring possessions that changed the game.
Seattle did create some opportunities on special teams. Rashad Rochelle produced a 52-yard punt return, and the Seahawks also recorded a strong 18-yard return from Cody White. However, those field-position gains did not translate into additional points.
Missed Opportunities Keep Seattle Off the Scoreboard
One of the clearest turning points came in the second quarter.
After Dallas' field goal cut Seattle's lead to 7-3, the Seahawks responded with a 15-play drive. The possession moved deep enough into Dallas territory to create a scoring opportunity, but Jason Myers missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt wide right.
That missed kick became more significant as Dallas took control. Brown's first touchdown followed, turning a potential Seahawks scoring opportunity into a seven-point swing in momentum.
Seattle never scored again after its opening possession, while Dallas added 14 unanswered points between the second and third quarters.
Dallas Defense Settles Down After Early Problems
Dallas' defense did not have a perfect beginning, but it became increasingly effective as the game progressed.
The Cowboys held Seattle to 107 rushing yards and only 76 receiving yards. Seattle's quarterbacks combined for 49 passing yards, while three sacks accounted for 27 lost yards against the Seahawks.
Curtis Robinson led Dallas with eight tackles, while James Houston recorded a sack and contributed to the Cowboys' defensive pressure. Dallas finished with three sacks and limited Seattle to just one touchdown over the entire contest.
The Cowboys' defensive performance was particularly important because the game featured a large number of reserve players and roster hopefuls rather than the teams' full first-team units. As a result, the contest served primarily as an early evaluation opportunity for players competing for roster positions.
Final Score: Cowboys 17, Seahawks 7
Dallas ultimately controlled the scoreboard after falling behind early. The Cowboys scored 17 unanswered points after Seattle's opening touchdown and closed out the preseason opener with a 17-7 victory.
The final scoring breakdown was Dallas 0-10-7-0 and Seattle 7-0-0-0. Aubrey finished 1-for-1 on field goals, converting from 29 yards, while Myers went 0-for-1 for Seattle.
For Dallas, the night belonged to Brown, whose two touchdown receptions provided the game's decisive offensive plays. Howell and Milton also produced an efficient combined passing performance, giving the Cowboys several positive individual developments to evaluate from their first exhibition game.
For Seattle, the early 80-yard scoring drive and Knight's first-half tackling performance were among the brighter moments, but the offense struggled to maintain possession and generate consistent production after the opening series. The Seahawks finished the night without another score and managed only 76 receiving yards.
Because this was the preseason opener, the result provides an early snapshot rather than a complete assessment of either team's regular-season roster. The most immediate value of the game came from the individual performances, position competitions and opportunities for young players to establish themselves in live game action.
