LANDOVER, Md. – The national television audience, whether they wanted it or not, got another look at the Jayden Daniels-less Washington Commanders. This time, they got their money’s worth.
What they saw was an improved defensive effort for a second consecutive game, and a team that took the AFC-title-contending Denver Broncos to overtime in thrilling fashion before landing with a thud.
The Broncos’ number-one-ranked defense wasn’t impenetrable, and their inconsistent offense remained up-and-down. For much of the game, the team with a six-game losing streak played even with the AFC squad that last lost in Week 3. Washington largely avoided the self-inflicted defensive mistakes that plagued its season. Wide receiver Treylon Burks made a touchdown catch that will make every highlight show.
New kicker Jake Moody booted the game-tying field goal at the end of regulation. Washington allowed Broncos running back R.J. Harvey’s five-yard touchdown run, his second of the game, on the first possession of the extra period. Madness followed as did Terry McLaurin’s potential game-tying touchdown in the extra period. Head coach Dan Quinn went for the two-point play and the win, as he should have considering the state of the season.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota made the proper read, but Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto deflected the pass attempt to running back Jeremy McNichols. Washington cleared the competitive low bar set after weeks of misery, but failed to reach the win column for the first time since October 5, falling 27-26 in its second consecutive overtime game.
Tight end Zach Ertz set a season-high with 10 receptions for 106 yards, and wide receiver McLaurin had seven receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown in only his second game since suffering a quad injury in Week 3. Regardless, the Commanders fell to 3-9 overall with their seventh consecutive loss, and fell to 0-6 in prime time or single-game windows this season.
Mariota completed 28 of 50 passes for 294 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, as Washington’s offense compiled 419 yards. Broncos QB Bo Nix was 29 of 45 for 321 yards, one touchdown and an interception.
Washington won the coin toss and chose to start on defense/receive the second half kickoff. There are three safety looks with Will Harris making his return after suffering a broken fibula in Week 3. Perhaps Denver wanted to gauge the amount of rust as Nix’s first completion went to tight end Adam Trautman for 13 yards with Harris in coverage.
Despite that gain, Nix completed only 3 of 7 passes on the possession. He missed on second and third down from Washington’s 15, leading to Will Lutz’s 33-yard field goal. Harris had good coverage on the second-down shot in the end zone, forcing Nix to throw high and long. Noah Igbinoghene stopped the subsequent 3rd and 5 throw.
Chris Rodriguez remained the opening back for Washington, providing the interior power this offense lacked much of the season. The Commanders ended up punting, but from the Broncos’ 39, a sign that head coach Dan Quinn isn’t ready to trust the kicking operation from deep with kicker Jake Moody and just signed long snapper Zach Triner, making their Washington debuts. Tyler Ott (illness/back) popped up on Friday’s injury report and was made inactive.
Broncos 3-0
Second time the charm for Washington’s offense, but Nix laughs last.
The first drive in the quarter ended with a brutal Mariota interception. Rookies cannot make that throw, not in your own territory and certainly not against a powerhouse defense when Washington’s offense moved the ball into the red zone. Mariota thrived much of the game with quick passes. Here, maybe he had too much time — and options on 2nd and 6 from Denver’s 19-yard line. Run up the gaping hole inside, plant your feet and fire, or toss the ball into the stands. Throwing awkwardly toward a covered target (Rodriguez) near the sideline while on the move cannot happen.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, one of the ex-49ers on Denver’s defense that Adam Peters didn’t bring to Washington, made the interception. He almost didn’t have a choice, seeing as the soft toss went right into his mitts. The Broncos then mirrored their first scoring drive, moving 56 yards on 13 plays before settling for another 33-yard field goal. Calling a run on 2nd and 14 from the Commanders’ 16 felt like Payton saying he’s not worried about Washington’s scoring much against his defense.
Well, about that. Between Mariota’s scrambling and passes for 21 and 11 yards to Ertz and McLaurin, respectively, the Commanders kept the chains moving. McLaurin had yet to catch a pass when the crowd began chanting, “Terry, Terry.” On cue, Mariota fires a slant to McLaurin for 11 yards on 2nd and 9. McLaurin got back on his feet, acknowledged the crowd, and gestured for them to keep it coming.
Rodriguez capped the drive with an 8-yard blast up the middle for Washington’s first touchdown with 2:21 remaining in the quarter. I understood why the Commanders traded Brian Robinson, but it’s as if they also dealt away any notion of inside power runs. That’s changed in the past two games.
The Broncos allowed an average of 14.7 first downs over their previous three games. The Commanders have 12 at this point.
However, the defense reverted to poor habits before the half. Nix, unimpressive to this point, completed 8 of 10 passes for 64 yards. His 11-yard touchdown strike to Courtland Sutton in the middle of the end zone occurred with Harris in coverage. Dagger.
Washington ran the kickoff back to its 35, but chose to kneel with 16 seconds remaining. Having already passed on a 57-yard FG attempt with new faces in the kicking operation, I get the conservative choice, even for a 3-8 team. Not everyone agrees.
Broncos 13-7
Holy, Treylon Burks.
One catch doesn’t make someone a starter, but the outstretched, one-handed, Odell Beckham-ish grab for a 5-yard touchdown will jump-start the conversation about Burks’ future. Mariota, having already deftly completed multiple throws to Ertz on the possession, threw a high fade to the 6-foot-2 target. Burks, a former Titans first-round pick, looked like a blue-chip prospect on the spectacular grab. Consistency trumps OMG, but for a team lacking big play potential, what a moment to savor.
The game that had low-scoring vibes at the start continued its high-scoring pace. Denver’s 10-play, 72-yard drive, ending with an R.J. Harvey 1-yard touchdown run, marked the fifth consecutive scoring possession by both teams, not counting the kneeldown.
Nix’s 31-yarder to Sutton on 3rd and 11 from Denver’s 40 was a backbreaker, especially since Denver’s top receiver was wide open down the left sideline. Miscommunication in the secondary? Don’t worry. Those issues will disappear when Harris returns to the lineup. (Checks notes). Oh, never mind.
The scoring streak ended when Washington punted after moving the ball to midfield. The defense needs a stop here, or the Commanders will face a two-score deficit.
Broncos 20-14
Stop happens, thanks to a horrid pass from Nix unless he intended on hitting linebacker Bobby Wagner between the numbers. Starting at Denver’s 36, Washington manages one first down before Moody enters for a 38-yard field goal with 12:37 remaining.
Otherwise, the scoreboard operator had little to do in the final period. Denver gained 34 yards combined on its next two possessions, resulting in consecutive punts. Washington ran seven plays for 13 yards the following two times it touched the ball before Tress Way, the NFC’s net yardage leader entering Week 13, punted for the third and fourth time.
The Mariota to Ertz combination worked much of the night, but a deep shot down the middle on 3rd and 21 fell incomplete due to Denver linebacker Alex Singleton knocking the ball out of Ertz’s hands. Singleton heroicly rejoined the Broncos lineup less than a month after having testicular cancer surgery.
Washington’s final possession started at its 15 with 3:00 minutes remaining following a 50-yard punt by Denver’s Jeremy Crawshaw. Mariota and Ertz maintained their hook-up with three completions for 31 yards, and the quarterback moved the chains on 3rd and 3 with a six-yard run to Denver’s 14 with 12 seconds on the clock. After two empty downs, Moody calmly forced overtime with a 32-yard field goal for the final play of regulation.
Tied 20-20
Denver struck first. Tight end Evan Engram juked Wagner over the middle to create space, and Nix fed him for a 41-yard catch-and-run to Washington’s 11. Harvey scored two plays later. Then the madness took over.
Mariota threw an interception, but safety Talanoa Hufanga was called for pass interference at the Broncos’ 36.
Three plays later, Mariota hit McLaurin for a 30-yard touchdown — but right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. is called for holding.
On 3rd and 14 from the 40, Samuel makes a 38-yard grab to the Denver 2.
They needed the entire new set of downs to find the end zone, but Mariota hit McLaurin slanting over the middle. Quinn goes for two, as he should. Running back Jeremy McNichols started in a 4-x-1 set to the left, motioned right and then darted back into the left flat. Bonitto never let him get his hands on the ball.
Game over. Growth is evident, but pain remains.
