Table of Content
- Cowboys Suffer Historic Collapse Against Cardinals
- Joe Burrow Delivers Historic Heroics for Bengals
- Ravens Lose Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley
- Broncos Extend One-Score Game Streak
- Florida Weather Stifles Offenses in Tampa Bay
- Undefeated Season Hopes End for Vikings
- Jim Harbaugh Faces Pressure After Chargers Loss
- Steelers Dominate Home Series Against Browns
Week 8 of the NFL season delivered dramatic twists, headlined by a historic performance from Joe Burrow and a catastrophic fourth-quarter collapse by the Dallas Cowboys. As the league proved once again how unpredictable it can be, teams like the Arizona Cardinals celebrated unexpected victories while others faced mounting pressure.
Cowboys Suffer Historic Collapse Against Cardinals
The Dallas Cowboys endured a disastrous fourth-quarter and overtime sequence, blowing a 10-point lead with under four minutes remaining in regulation. Brian Schottenheimer’s offense failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 in the first quarter, setting the tone for a game where the defense surrendered 33 points to the Arizona Cardinals in a 33-30 overtime defeat. The Cowboys’ defense has failed to hold a single opponent under 20 points all season, and they allowed 30 points in the second half and overtime to backup quarterback Gardner Minshew.
The defeat keeps Arizona undefeated at 5-0 all-time at AT&T Stadium. The loss stings especially hard given historical statistics noted by ESPN Insights, which highlighted that entering the game, the Cardinals were 1-174-1 when trailing by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter since 2000, while the Cowboys were 69-0 at home when leading by 14 or more in the fourth period.
Joe Burrow Delivers Historic Heroics for Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow put together a career day, carrying his team to a 43-36 overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans. Burrow became only the second quarterback in NFL history to record 450 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown in the same game, and the first to achieve the feat in 75 years. He finished the contest with 472 total yards and six total touchdowns.
Although Burrow threw three interceptions, the Cincinnati defense limited the damage to just one field goal following those turnovers. The five passing touchdowns matched a career high for Burrow, while his 462 passing yards marked the third-most in a single game of his career.
Ravens Lose Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley
The Baltimore Ravens suffered a devastating 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills while losing two quarterbacks to injuries. Lamar Jackson re-injured his thumb on his very first play back from a sprained ankle, while backup Tyler Huntley exited with a toe issue. This forced undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano into NFL debut action during the second quarter.
With Jackson scheduled for thumb surgery and expected to miss at least four weeks, the Ravens sit at .500 in last place in the AFC North. The Baltimore offense has failed to score more than 13 points in its last three consecutive games, all resulting in losses.
Broncos Extend One-Score Game Streak
Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos continued their remarkable knack for winning close games, securing a 28-24 comeback victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The win marked the Broncos’ 15th consecutive victory in one-score games dating back to last season, tying the NFL regular-season record. Denver is now 5-0 in games decided by seven points or fewer this year.
The Broncos overcame an 11-point deficit with under nine minutes remaining, scoring two touchdowns and sealing the win with a fourth-and-goal sack of Patrick Mahomes after their win probability had dropped as low as 10.2% in the fourth quarter.
Florida Weather Stifles Offenses in Tampa Bay
A torrential downpour in Tampa Bay severely impacted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons, resulting in a game where Baker Mayfield completed zero passes, going 0-for-3 in a 16-0 shutout victory. The Buccaneers became the first team to win without a completion since the 1974 Bills, relying heavily on the run game as Bucky Irving rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. struggled heavily in the weather, completing just 8 of 24 pass attempts and throwing four interceptions, two of which were hauled in by Alex Anzalone during the first quarter.
Undefeated Season Hopes End for Vikings
The 1972 Miami Dolphins will continue to stand alone as the only team in NFL history to complete an undefeated season. The Minnesota Vikings entered Week 8 as the league’s last remaining undefeated team at 6-0, but suffered a 19-15 divisional loss to the Detroit Lions.
Jim Harbaugh Faces Pressure After Chargers Loss
Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh remained loyal to offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel through the bye week, but watched his unit produce only nine points in a 24-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Justin Herbert threw two interceptions to reclaim the sole league high, and the rushing attack managed just 64 yards as the offense failed to reach double digits for the second straight game.
Sitting at 0-7, Harbaugh is the NFL’s only winless coach and faces mounting scrutiny. Having opted not to make a coaching change during the bye week, the pressure falls squarely on his shoulders to fix the sputtering offense.
Steelers Dominate Home Series Against Browns
The Pittsburgh Steelers took a major step forward in the competitive AFC North with a 27-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns. The win extended the home team’s active winning streak in the matchup to 11 consecutive games dating back to January 2022, marking the longest active streak in any NFL series. Pittsburgh has now won 24 of its last 25 regular-season home games against Cleveland, leaving the Browns with only two total wins at Acrisure Stadium since it opened in 2021.
