Week 8 NFL lowlights: Stunning Cowboys collapse, Lamar Jackson's potential Ravens end and everything in between

Context surrounding the unprecedented collapse makes it even worse.

Backup Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew led the comeback after starter Jacoby Brissett was benched. Arizona was also without lead back Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick in April's NFL Draft, after he exited with an ankle injury late in the first quarter.

Per ESPN's win probability chart, the Cowboys had a 98.4 percent chance of winning after a Cardinals false start on a 2nd-and-10 from the Dallas 29-yard line with two minutes and 43 seconds remaining. And Dallas was almost a play away from securing victory following a third-down incompletion, but edge-rusher Rashan Gary used the crown of his helmet on a shot to Minshew's facemask, resulting in a roughing penalty and fresh set of downs, which Arizona promptly turned into a score to pull within three.

The Cowboys then had a chance to win the game in overtime after the defense forced a three-and-out on the Cardinals' opening possession, but quarterback Dak Prescott and the offense matched with its own three-play drive, allowing redemption for Arizona kicker Chad Ryland, who made a walk-off field goal after missing an extra point that would have won the game in regulation.

With the loss, Dallas failed to inch closer to the idle New York Giants (4-2-1) for first in the NFC East, and afterward owner Jerry Jones spoke with reporters and blasted the result as "an indictment of the whole show."

It's a telling response. To Jones, this is all an act. And once again, he's the architect of a Shakespearean tragedy.

Worst quarterback performance, 1A: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't complete a pass in monsoon-like conditions during a 16-0 win over the Falcons and was still somehow the game's best quarterback.

That's because on the other side, Penix had maybe the worst performance we've seen since Nathan Peterman's five-interception game in 2017. The former first-round pick was 8-of-24 for 125 yards (76 of those coming on one completion) and four interceptions, including two in the first quarter by Bucs linebacker Alex Anzalone.

He was overwhelmed by pressure up the middle on his third interception, which he threw off his back foot directly to second-year cornerback Jacob Parrish.

He underthrew tight end Charlie Woerner for interception No. 4, killing Atlanta's most promising drive at the edge of the red zone.

"I have to protect the ball. That's the only way to win games," Penix said afterward, per senior team reporter Tori McElhaney. "I promise I will."

We wouldn't be so sure. Atlanta's next three games are against the Cincinnati Bengals (5-2), Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) and Minnesota Vikings (6-1), teams that entered Week 8 ranked in the top five in opponents' drives ending in turnovers. The Falcons may soon find that when it rains, it pours.

Worst quarterback performance, 1B: Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert

Penix at least has the poor weather as an excuse for his stinker. What's Herbert's?

The Chargers (0-7) remained the league's only winless team following a 24-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams (4-4) as Herbert's miserable season continued.

The 2020 No. 6 overall pick finished 24-of-32 for 257 yards while adding two interceptions to his NFL-high 10 through seven games.

Both were terrible throws. On the first, Herbert's pass was easily cut off by Rams defense back Quentin Lake. Later, he threw to a blanketed tight end Charlie Kolar, and corner Trent McDuffie made Herbert pay for the mistake with a pick.

The season keeps getting worse for Herbert. Whatever's turned him from one of the league's more talented quarterbacks to biggest calamities won't be fixed in 2026. It will take an offseason or, worse yet for Los Angeles, a change of scenery.

Worst mismatch: Pittsburgh Steelers edge-rusher T.J. Watt vs. Cleveland Browns right tackle Tytus Howard

The Browns found out the hard way that if your starting tackle hasn't practiced all week, lining him up against an All-Pro-caliber defensive end is a bad idea.

The Steelers (6-2) took the lead in the AFC North with a commanding 27-6 win over the Browns (5-3), and they were led by a dominant effort up front. Pittsburgh finished with eight sacks on Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson, including two by Watt when lined up opposite of Howard, who missed practice this week after suffering a concussion last Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Worst injury: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson

Things are not so charming in the Charm City.

The Ravens (4-4) are last in the AFC North following three consecutive losses and will be without Jackson for at least the next four weeks after he suffered a right thumb injury early in the first quarter of Week 8's 36-10 road loss to the Buffalo Bills (6-1).

Per ESPN Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley, Jackson requires surgery and will be placed on injured reserve. First-year head coach Jesse Minter wouldn't rule out his quarterback missing the rest of the season when asked, responding, "Potentially, but we'll see where we're at."

Insider Dan Graziano declared the idea of Jackson having already played his last game with the Ravens "not an overreaction" in a Sunday evening column, citing an astronomical $84.34M cap number for the 2028 unrestricted free agent plus his previous reluctance to sign an extension.

"If they don't feel comfortable heading into the finale year of Jackson's deal without an extension in place," Graziano wrote, "we are going to hear legitimate talk of Jackson being traded."