Dallas Cowboys Preseason Game 1 Recap & Game 2 Preview – Preseason Week 2: Cowboys vs. Ravens

Cowboys Falter in Opener, Gearing Up for Baltimore Bounce-Back

The Cowboys’ preseason game against the Rams went about like you would expect a typical preseason game to go. A lot of guys were out there doing things for the first time and it showed. Even guys with experience were knocking the rust off so to speak. Speaking of doing things for the first time, Brian Schottenheimer coached his first game as a head coach in the NFL. Congratulations coach! He’s had to wait a long time for the opportunity, so you know it meant a lot to him. A lot of people don’t seem to expect much from him. I hope he does well for his own sake, and the players seem to like him for what it’s worth. I think it would be hilarious if he exceeded expectations, like beginner’s luck, and surprised a lot of people. Similar to first year quarterbacks, it’s a very real advantage first year head coaches have when the rest of the league doesn’t have footage on them yet. I can recall other coaches whose first year was better than the years that followed for that very reason. Time will tell if any such advantage exists for this coach or not.

If the Cowboys were hoping to clarify their backup quarterback position, they’ll likely need a few more games to make that decision. I’m hoping rust combined with nerves led to the errant throws early in the game. It’s to be expected when just returning from the offseason. Joe Milton III played better as the game went along and seemed to settle down. Hopefully his thumb injury is minor and won’t affect his performance moving forward, even though it did require him to miss the last 3-5 minutes of the game.

The Dallas Cowboys kicked off the 2025 preseason with a 31–21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, showing flashes of potential but also exposing weaknesses. Now, attention shifts to Week 2 at AT&T Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens—another opportunity to assess depth and fine-tune schemes.

The Cowboys’ run defense looked pretty similar to what we’ve already been seeing around here for years. The hope is that a new Defensive Coordinator and a few new players will improve a run defense that’s been trending in the wrong direction. Through one preseason game, results look about the same. Preseason Game 2 against the Baltimore Ravens should provide another good test of where this run defense is at in its progression. The Ravens have historically always had a strong running attack, and the current team might be one of the best ever. So, it’s exactly the type of team you’d want the Cowboys to play against in terms of play style to find out where they’re at in their effort to improve the run defense.

Preseason Game 1 Recap: Rams vs. Cowboys

Final Score: Cowboys fell to the Rams, 31–21.

Offensive Notes:

Backup QB Joe Milton III had a rocky start—early accuracy issues—but settled down late, finishing with 143 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

The running game showed promise: Malik Davis rushed for 63 yards on seven carries, while rookie Phil Mafah added 36 yards—though a penalty erased one of his best plays.

Defensive Notes:

The Cowboys’ defense struggled, especially early and late, surrendering 181 rushing yards and allowing two early rushing touchdowns.

There were bright spots: Marist Liufau made several key tackles, Israel Mukuamu snagged a one-handed interception, and undrafted DB Zion Childress logged six tackles with aggressive play.

Scheme & Discipline:

Several ill-timed penalties derailed early drives and red zone opportunities.

The offense converted just 4-of-11 third downs and managed only 2-of-4 in the red zone—lagging behind the Rams, who were far more efficient.

Preseason Game 2 Preview: Cowboys vs. Ravens

Matchup Details:

Opponent: Baltimore Ravens (visiting)

Date & Time: Saturday, August 16, 2025, 6:00 PM CDT

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Broadcast: CBS 11, Telemundo 39 in Dallas; NBC/WBAL in Baltimore; streaming on NFL+.

Ravens, coming off a win over Indianapolis, will sit some key starters. Backup QB Cooper Rush—who once played for Dallas—is expected to get significant snaps.

Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer is undecided on backup QB rotation, though Joe Milton III is likely to play more amid accuracy concerns.

Storylines to Watch:

Can the Cowboys clean up penalties and improve efficiency in key down and distance situations?

How will the offensive backups—especially Milton—use another game to build rhythm and confidence?

Will the run defense improve, or will it reveal more vulnerabilities?

Will emerging roster hopefuls, like undrafted rookies or depth defenders, step forward?

Final Thoughts

The one thing I will say about the backup quarterback situation in general right now is you can tell when the game seems too big for a player or not. I remember what people always said about Dak his first few years in the league. They were always amazed that he could look one way in practice, but then flip a switch at game time and go ball out like the game was never too big or fast for him. If the game continues to look too big and fast for any potential backup quarterback, then I think the role will rightfully go to the other man in the room, especially if he’s been there longer and is more familiar with the system. The evaluation of this position will remain ongoing until one player shows enough on the field to clearly separate themselves.

Preseason Game 2 versus the Ravens is a critical game for Dallas to base roster decisions on. Players that want to make the team need to do so now. They don’t want to wait until the last game of the preseason, because that’s often considered essentially a tryout for other teams. So, after a rocky debut, it’s time for backups and new faces to build consistency. If Milton and the offense find better rhythm, and the defense tightens up, the Cowboys will feel better about their backups and rotation players heading into the final exhibition and the regular season. But continued mental errors or scheme breakdowns could raise real concerns. I’m excited for another game to watch tonight as we continue to learn more about this year’s version of the Dallas Cowboys!