National Football League

NFL Week 8 top plays: Cowboys-Vikings, WFT-Broncos, Bucs-Saints, and more

Updated Oct. 31, 2021 11:40 p.m. ET

Things got spooky on this Halloween Sunday in the NFL!

The Cooper Rush-led Cowboys proved to be road warriors as they took the lead in the final minute to defeat the Vikings 20-16 in Minnesota. Dallas now improves to 6-1 while Minnesota drops to 3-4 on the season.

In the early window, the Pittsburgh Steelers escaped the Browns in Cleveland, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Chicago Bears, and Mike White –– in his first NFL start –– led the New York Jets to a big upset over the Cincinnati Bengals.

In the afternoon slate, the Denver Broncos topped the Washington Football Team in a defensive showcase, the Los Angeles Chargers fell to the Patriots in New England, and the New Orleans Saints took down Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Superdome.

Here are the top moments from Sunday.

Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 16

Scary good

Kirk Cousins connected with Adam Thielen to cap off this seven-play, 75-yard drive with a Vikings touchdown.

Fancy footwork

Justin Jefferson didn't come up with the catch on this play, but his dangerous route running was on full display.

Going for it

The Vikings elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 44, converting on a 32-yard completion from Cousins to Thielen.

Headed into the break, the Vikings led 10-3.

To the house

Rush –– who is in for an injured Dak Prescott –– connected with Cedrick Wilson on this monster 73-yard TD to knot things up.

Tricks and treats

The Cowboys pulled off some trickery when Wilson launched this rocket to CeeDee Lamb for a 35-yard gain, which resulted in a field goal for Dallas.

Headed into the final frame, it was tied 13-13.

Mixing it up

The Cowboys continued to charge down the field by any means necessary.

Juggling act

How about this incredible catch from Amari Cooper?

Cooper finished what he started when he snagged this short pass from Rush for the go-ahead score as the Cowboys took a 20-16 lead, securing the W for Big D.

New Orleans Saints 36, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27

Bucs on the board

Tampa Bay was first to score thanks to this strike from Brady to Chris Godwin for six.

Knotted up

The Saints responded with a score of their own on this picture-perfect pas from Jameis Winston to Tre'Quan Smith.

Shaken up

While trying to scramble out of the pocket, Winston went down hard on a horse-collar tackle and was carted to the locker room with a leg injury.

With Taysom Hill out with a concussion, third-string QB Trevor Siemian –– who had only thrown six NFL passes since 2017 –– checked in for the Saints.

Double trouble

The Saints' defense forced another turnover from Brady. This time C.J. Gardner-Johnson came up with it …

… which resulted in a touchdown for New Orleans as the Saints took a nine-point lead over the Bucs.

Second-half surge

Brady & Co. bounced back in the second half, as Mike Evans found the end zone to cut New Orleans' lead.

Evans now has 69 career TD catches. That's more than twice as many touchdown receptions than any other receiver in Buccaneers' history.

When it rains, it pours

The Bucs continued to pour it on, taking a late fourth-quarter lead.

Saints go marching in

But in the end, it was another turnover from Brady that sealed the deal for Tampa Bay.

New England Patriots 27, Los Angeles Chargers 24

Comin' through

Austin Ekeler ran through the entire Patriots' defense on this play to put the Chargers up 7-0 early.

No tricks, all treats

Rookie QB Mac Jones launched this rocket to Nelson Agholor, good for a 44-yard gain for the Patriots.

All gas

Justin Jackson took off on this monster run for the Chargers, putting L.A. deep in New England's territory.

Pats pick

In the second half, the Patriots came up with a massive turnover to take charge of the field, which resulted in a TD for New England.

Denver Broncos 17, Washington Football Team 10

One more play

It was a star-studded event in Denver as Peyton Manning dropped in to do what he does best.

Bronco ball

Melvin Gordon exploded out of the backfield for the Broncos' first touchdown of the day.

Tie game

Taylor Heinicke dropped this time to DeAndre Carter to knot things up late in the third quarter.

Seattle Seahawks 31, Jacksonville Jaguars 7

Spooky snag

How did DK Metcalf catch this ball? Wrong answers only.

The Seahawks continued to pour it on as they put the Jaguars in a 17-0 hole.

Keep 'em coming

It was more of the same in the second half, as Metcalf snagged his second TD of the game.

Not so fast

Jacksonville attempted an onside kick, but things didn't go according to plan for the Jaguars.

Better late than never

The Jaguars avoided the shut out on this strike from Trevor Lawrence to Jamal Agnew in the end zone.

Tennessee Titans 34, Indianapolis Colts 31 (OT)

Fourth and Go!

Indianapolis opted to go for six on its first red-zone possession.

Spoiler alert: It worked.

Double up

The Colts came up with an interception after their first score. That set up another Carson Wentz-to-Michael Pittman Jr. scoring connection.

Redemption

After throwing the pick, Ryan Tannehill bounced back to lead Tennessee on an 11-play, 60-yard drive for six.

Star in the making

A.J. Brown put his skills on full display in this sprint to pay dirt.

Hi Jack!

Indy dialed up a crafty play action call, which allowed Jack Doyle to sneak open in the flat for a TD. The Colts took a 24-21 lead on the play.

INT ends it

In overtime, Wentz threw an interception, and things ended there for the Colts.

New York Jets 34, Cincinnati Bengals 31

Takeoff!

Te Jets lifted their wheels early, as Michael Carter continued his hot stretch with another scoring scamper.

Anything you can do …

The Bengals have a running game, too. Their first TD came in the first, courtesy of Joe Mixon.

Chasing history

Rookie star Ja'Marr Chase is almost a lock to find the end zone each week.

Some Halloween tricks

Mixon turned on his own jets on this double pass.

One hand for safety

It didn't count, but this Keelan Cole grab is worth your time.

Braxton Berrios' next catch did. It brought the Jets within 17-14 at the half.

To a Tee

Chase isn't Cincinnati's only big play threat at WR. Burrow uncorked this deep shot to Tee Higgins, which set up another Mixon score.

Game-changer

New York would score again, before its defense came away with a huge takeaway.

The play was just the beginning of a massive turnaround for the Jets. They scored on their fifth consecutive possession …

… And converted the two-point conversion for good measure.

Los Angeles Rams 38, Houston Texans 22

Air raid

Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay made magic on the Rams' first possession. Stafford found Darrell Henderson for the team's first touchdown.

Stafford squared

Stafford had himself a half! This time, he dialed up a house call to Robert Woods.

Way up

Cooper Kupp is doing things we haven't seen from a receiver in a long time. He found the end zone again this season early in the third quarter, and the rout was on for the Rams.

San Francisco 49ers 33, Chicago Bears 22

Arm talent

Justin Fields showed off his arm with this commendable throw into a tight window. It put the Bears up 10-3.

Samuel screen

Deebo Samuel broke loose for 83 yards on a screen play …

… Which set up a sneaky score from one Jimmy Garoppolo.

Justin time

Fields called his own number on of those plays that make you say "how?"

Mirror image

Garoppolo streamlined his way into the end zone again to help put San Francisco 30-22.

Pittsburgh Steelers 15, Cleveland Browns 10

Cutback

The first TD of the game came in the third quarter. D'Ernest Johnson found a lane to put Cleveland up 10-3.

Sniffing the pylon

Pittsburgh was not deterred. It got a contribution from its own RB, as Najee Harris sky-walked into the end zone.

That's mine

Pat Freiermuth left no doubt about this one, giving Pittsburgh a 15-10 lead with this strong snag.

Buffalo Bills 26, Miami Dolphins 11

QB/RB

Josh Allen is as dangerous on the ground as through the air. He tore up Miami's secondary with this 34-yard run.

Extending the play

Allen showed off him ability to shed tackles on this play. He stood firm in the pocket, before finding a wide-open Gabriel Davis for six.

Can you Digg it?

Allen and Stefon Diggs just keep getting better. This time, the middle of the field was their preferred territory, and the hook-up netted Buffalo six.

Not so fast

Tua Tagovailoa powered his team back into the matchup. This sneak brought Miami within six, 17-11.

Carolina Panthers 19, Atlanta Falcons 13

Jack of all trades

Cordarrelle Patterson is doing it all for Atlanta this season, putting his team on top with this nifty catch and run.

Philadelphia Eagles 44, Detroit Lions 6

Up the gut

Philadelphia was dominating early in Detroit by pounding the rock. This score from Jordan Howard put the Birds up 17-0.