OXNARD, CA — The Dallas Cowboys open their preseason on the road against the Seattle Seahawks, with several storylines worth watching as the team begins its evaluation process ahead of the regular season.
Dallas is looking to open the preseason with a victory for the first time since 2017, when the Cowboys defeated Arizona in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
The Cowboys enter the matchup with an all-time preseason record of 140-157-2. Seattle holds a 5-3 edge in the preseason series and won the most recent meeting, 22-14, on Aug. 19, 2023, at Lumen Field.
One of the biggest storylines will be the competition for the backup quarterback job between Joe Milton III and Sam Howell. Both quarterbacks will have an opportunity to make their case in live game action, making the preseason especially important as Dallas evaluates who could become the team’s No. 2 option behind Dak Prescott.
Another storyline to watch is new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who takes over a Cowboys defense looking to establish its identity. The preseason opener provides Parker with his first opportunity to see his system operate in a game setting.
The Cowboys will also get an early look at first-round draft pick Caleb Downs, one of the team’s most intriguing young players. Downs will be under the spotlight as he begins his transition to the NFL and gets his first taste of preseason action.
Dallas is 2-2 all time in preseason games at Lumen Field, while head coach Brian Schottenheimer enters the game with a 1-2 preseason record.
The result won’t count toward the regular-season standings, but the opener gives Dallas an important opportunity to evaluate its roster, settle position battles and see how its new pieces perform under game conditions.
For the Cowboys, the road to the regular season begins in Seattle — and there will be plenty to watch once the ball is kicked off.
