Week 8 of the NFL season delivered another round of surprising results, troubling injuries and questions about teams' postseason chances. The Dallas Cowboys suffered another late collapse, Lamar Jackson faces an extended absence, and the Los Angeles Chargers continued to struggle offensively.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay pulled off an extraordinary victory without completing a pass, and the Washington Commanders kept their NFC East hopes alive with a statement win over Philadelphia.
Cowboys Suffer Another Costly Collapse
The Dallas Cowboys appeared to have Arizona under control when quarterback Dak Prescott scored a rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give his team a 24-10 lead.
Dallas had been 69-0 since 2000 when leading by at least 14 points in the fourth quarter at home. That perfect record is now history.
The Arizona Cardinals rallied for 20 fourth-quarter points before winning 33-30 in overtime. Dallas even had a chance to avoid the extra period when Arizona missed a potential go-ahead extra point with six seconds remaining in regulation.
The defeat marked another painful late-game collapse for Dallas, which had also surrendered a lead in the closing seconds of an earlier loss this season.
Defensive struggles once again overshadowed the Cowboys' performance. Arizona managed to win despite committing two turnovers and converting just eight of 18 third-down attempts. The Cardinals also turned to backup quarterback Gardner Minshew after benching their starter.
Dallas' offense struggled to provide enough support, averaging just 3.6 yards per play and 2.4 yards per rushing attempt.
Owner Jerry Jones was visibly frustrated after the loss. Asked whether he was considering a midseason coaching change, Jones said firing Brian Schottenheimer was not on his mind at the time and expressed confidence in the coach.
Prescott also rejected the idea of blaming one individual, saying responsibility belonged to the entire team.
Schottenheimer appears set to remain in place for now, but Dallas must address its defensive problems quickly if it hopes to recover from a 3-5 start.
Lamar Jackson Needs Thumb Surgery
The Baltimore Ravens suffered another major setback when Lamar Jackson injured the thumb on his throwing hand during the opening play of Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Jackson was returning after missing three games with a high ankle sprain, but his comeback lasted only one play. According to Ravens coach Jesse Minter, the quarterback requires thumb surgery and will miss at least four more games. Baltimore placed him on injured reserve.
The Ravens struggled further when backup quarterback Tyler Huntley also left the game with an injury, forcing Baltimore to rely on its third-string option.
Baltimore fell to 4-4, while Buffalo improved to 6-1. The Bills also extended their impressive record after bye weeks, winning their 12th consecutive regular-season game following a bye.
Jackson's absence puts additional pressure on Baltimore as it tries to stay competitive in the AFC. The Ravens will need more consistent production from their remaining quarterbacks while their franchise star recovers.
Browns Come Back Down to Earth Against Steelers
The Cleveland Browns entered Week 8 at 5-2, raising questions about whether their early-season success could continue.
Their road matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers offered a significant test, particularly after Cleveland had already beaten Pittsburgh earlier in the season.
The Steelers delivered a decisive answer, winning 27-6 behind 200 rushing yards and eight sacks.
Jaylen Warren rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown, while Rico Dowdle added a first-quarter scoring run. Pittsburgh improved to 6-2 and moved into first place in the AFC North.
Deshaun Watson threw for 324 yards, but the Browns' passing game struggled under relentless pressure. Cleveland has now lost 23 consecutive regular-season road games in Pittsburgh, tying an NFL record for consecutive home victories against the same opponent.
The Steelers' home success has been striking, but their upcoming road schedule presents another challenge. Pittsburgh has averaged 17.3 points per game away from home this season, compared with 27.7 at home.
Buccaneers Win Without Completing a Pass
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers produced one of the most unusual victories of the season, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 despite failing to complete a single pass.
Rain and standing water made passing conditions difficult, so Tampa Bay leaned heavily on its running game. The strategy worked: the Buccaneers rushed for a franchise-record 324 yards.
Tampa Bay became the first NFL team since 1974 to win a game without completing a pass, according to the supplied game report.
The contest was marked by sloppy conditions and turnovers, with five fumbles and four interceptions recorded. The Buccaneers finished 0-for-3 passing but still secured a shutout.
Head coach Todd Bowles said the team anticipated difficult weather and prepared accordingly. The result demonstrated how a team can adapt its approach when conditions make its usual offensive plan impractical.
Chargers' Offensive Struggles Continue
The Los Angeles Chargers endured another frustrating afternoon in a 24-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
The defeat extended the Chargers' winless stretch to seven games and left their offense searching for answers. Los Angeles has gone 27 consecutive drives without scoring a touchdown, according to ESPN's tracking.
The Chargers have scored only nine offensive touchdowns this season, three fewer than any other team in the league.
Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel faces growing scrutiny as the unit continues to struggle. However, head coach Jim Harbaugh declined to address whether a change in play-calling was necessary.
Harbaugh said his immediate focus was reviewing the game film and maintaining confidence in his players and coaching staff.
Unless the offense finds a way to finish drives, the Chargers will continue to face an uphill battle.
Commanders Keep NFC East Hopes Alive
Washington improved to 2-4-1 with a 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, creating fresh uncertainty in the NFC East.
The defeat dropped Philadelphia to 2-6 and extended its losing streak to six games, the franchise's longest since 2012. The Eagles also recorded their worst start since 1999.
Despite Washington's modest record, NBC Sports projections gave the Commanders a 25% chance of winning the division after the victory.
The NFC East remains open because no team has established firm control. The New York Giants lead the division at 4-2-1, while Dallas sits at 3-5 and Washington is at 2-4-1.
New York still has two important divisional matchups remaining against Dallas and Washington, leaving the door open for a late-season shake-up.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, faces mounting pressure to reverse its slide if it hopes to revive its playoff prospects.
Week 8 Leaves Major Questions Unanswered
Dallas must find a way to protect late leads, Baltimore needs to navigate life without Jackson, and the Chargers urgently need offensive improvement. At the same time, Tampa Bay showed that adaptability can pay off in extreme conditions, while Washington kept its division race alive.
With the season moving forward, these teams have little time to solve their problems before the consequences become even more significant.
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