Dallas Cowboys Collapse Against Arizona Cardinals in Week 8
With 2:23 remaining in regulation, the Dallas Cowboys held a 27-17 lead over the Arizona Cardinals after forcing an incomplete pass on third down. Minutes later, the Cowboys walked off the field facing a 33-30 overtime defeat, a result included in a Week 8 recap. The loss unfolded through three interconnected failures: a costly defensive penalty, an ineffective ground attack unable to run out the clock, and a defense that failed to stop Arizona quarterback Gardner Minshew down the stretch.
Rashan Gary Penalty Extends Arizona’s Drive
On that crucial third-and-long play, Minshew’s deep pass fell incomplete, which should have forced the Cardinals into a fourth-and-ten. Instead, Rashan Gary was penalized for illegal helmet contact against the quarterback. The infraction handed Arizona 15 yards and a first down, moving the chains to the Dallas 14-yard line. On the very next snap, Minshew connected with Trey McBride for a touchdown that trimmed the deficit to three points just before the two-minute warning. That single penalty spared Arizona from a fourth down and preserved the two-minute warning as a clock-stopping mechanism for the ensuing Dallas possession.
Cardinals pull off the win in extra time 😮💨🔊 Watch NFL Game Pass only on DAZN #NFLonDAZN #AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/xz70sSfALR
Dak Prescott and the Offense Fail to Run Out the Clock
The Cowboys still possessed an opening to secure the victory when Ryan Flournoy recovered an onside kick and returned it into opponent territory. Following an Arizona penalty, Dallas took over at the Cardinals’ 20-yard line but failed to pick up a single first down. Rather than simply running three conservative plays, Dallas dialed up a play-action pass that resulted in a sack of Dak Prescott. The drive stalled, forcing Brandon Aubrey to kick a 41-yard field goal that stretched the lead to 30-24 without entirely removing the threat of an Arizona comeback. While draining the clock held strategic value, picking up a first down remained the primary requirement to ice the game. The Dallas ground game managed just 93 yards across 39 carries, averaging a meager 2.4 yards per attempt.
Gardner Minshew and Tyler Allgeier Exploit Defensive Vulnerabilities
Gary’s penalty arrived after the Dallas defense had already lost command of the field. Following the insertion of Minshew in place of Jacoby Brissett, Arizona scored touchdowns on all four of its remaining regulation possessions. Minshew completed 17 of 23 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns. Compounding the aerial damage, Tyler Allgeier gashed the defense for 147 yards on only 11 carries, highlighted by explosive gains of 63 and 52 yards that rapidly reignited the Cardinals. Holding a lead required Dallas to bleed clock with sustained drives, yet Arizona repeatedly struck quickly. The game-tying drive demonstrated this vulnerability as the Cardinals marched 80 yards in eight plays, capped by Michael Wilson’s touchdown catch with six seconds left on the clock.
Overtime Misses and Final Sequence
Dallas gained a brief reprieve in overtime when Chad Ryland missed the extra point that would have given Arizona the lead. When the Cowboys defense forced a punt on the opening possession of the extra period, the offense failed to capitalize, going three-and-out. On their subsequent possession, the Cardinals drove far enough into field goal range for Ryland to convert the game-winning 42-yard kick. Sitting at a 3-5 record, the Cowboys face a multifaceted crisis that extends well beyond a single blown assignment by Gary, as both the offense and defense failed to execute when the game hung in the balance.
NFL Game Pass and Broadcast Availability
The matchup aired as part of the broader broadcast schedule. Viewers looking to follow the remainder of the professional football calendar can access games through the platform. The NFL Game Pass service on DAZN provides access to live fixtures, NFL RedZone, NFL Network, Game in 40, Sunday in 60, and Multiview features for the 2026 season.
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