3 winners and 3 losers from Cowboys' preseason game vs Ravens, including former starter who's making sure he isn't cut

Loser: QB Joe Milton

Similarly to last week, Milton settled down late in the game but it's hard to ignore a 3-for-10 start in which nothing is going well. In addition to questionable accuracy and decision-making, Milton allowed a safety after completely failing to see a double B-gap blitz coming from the backside of the play.

It wasn't a pretty outing and I wonder if Brian Schottenheimer will consider demoting him to get a better look at the Cowboys wide receivers in the preseason finale.

Winner: CB Kaiir Elam

Elam didn't play much on Saturday but for good reason.

The newcomer showed up ready to play. He made a big tackle in open space and had a rep in coverage that finished with him being very close to securing an interception. The former first rounder is ready to start at outside cornerback for the Cowboys.

Loser: WR Jalen Cropper

Cropper's night began as the offense's captain but unfortunately, he wasn't able to do much more to boost his stock. A lot of that isn't his fault as the Cowboys offense just wasn't clicking early on but one moment does fall on him.

He was open running the seam and Milton showed good ball placement by putting it right in the bucket. Cropper dropped it, a likely result of hearing footsteps from a safety that would've delivered a big-time hit. Cropper wants that one back.

Winner: DE James Houston

Houston is looking like the veteran that you just can't figure out how to fit him into the 53-man roster but most importantly, you don't know how he doesn't make it.

Sure, roster math will make it hard to sneak him in on what's already a deep EDGE unit but Houston can play. On Saturday, he officially recorded two QB hits but he was on the backfield consistently generating pressure.

Loser(s): The entire run defense

It's hard to pinpoint what went wrong in the trenches for the Cowboys run defense without reviewing the All-22. And while I hate to cheat here, we can't tell the story of the game without pointing out the entire run defense was concerning again.

The worrying part is the Cowboys are using players they will likely turn to in the regular season in this department, including former first rounder NT Mazi Smith.