The Denver Broncos survived a thrilling overtime battle against the Washington Commanders, winning 27-26 on Sunday night and extending their winning streak to nine games. Meanwhile, Washington dropped its seventh consecutive contest.
The game came down to a dramatic two-point conversion in overtime. With 2:47 remaining, Denver linebacker Nik Bonitto deflected a pass from Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota, sealing the Broncos’ victory and preserving their position atop the AFC standings.
Denver, now 10-2, matched New England’s record and temporarily claimed the No. 1 seed in the AFC, keeping their first-round bye hopes alive. The Broncos’ offense, led by quarterback Bo Nix, has been especially formidable late in games this season, with Nix orchestrating five fourth-quarter comebacks and Denver outscoring opponents by 63 points in the fourth quarter prior to Week 13.
Despite Denver’s dominance this season—particularly on defense, which is on pace to set an NFL record for sacks—the game required overtime. Washington, missing starting quarterback Jayden Daniels due to an elbow injury, mounted a strong ground attack, rushing for 143 yards, the second-highest total Denver has allowed all year.
After a 13-7 halftime lead, Denver and Washington traded scores early in the second half before both teams experienced a scoreless stretch of eight combined drives, punctuated by five consecutive punts. Washington’s effort culminated in a 71-yard, 18-play drive that ended with a game-tying field goal by Jake Moody as regulation expired.
In overtime, Denver initially appeared to have the win secured, scoring a touchdown and intercepting Mariota. However, a pass interference call on Talanoa Hufanga kept Washington’s drive alive. On fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line, Mariota connected with Terry McLaurin for a touchdown. The Commanders attempted a two-point conversion to win the game, but Bonitto’s decisive deflection ended the comeback bid.
Bo Nix finished with 321 passing yards, one touchdown, and an interception, completing 29 of 45 passes. Mariota threw for 294 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception on 28 completions in 50 attempts, keeping the game competitive despite Washington’s struggling record.
With this win, Denver continues its push for the AFC’s top seed and remains a serious contender for the playoffs. Washington, meanwhile, faces mounting pressure to halt its losing streak as the season approaches its final weeks.
