By Harshit
WASHINGTON, D.C., DEC. 1 — 12:05 AM EDT
The Week 13 edition of “Sunday Night Football” delivered chaos, momentum swings, and a dramatic overtime finish as the Denver Broncos outlasted the Washington Commanders 27-20 at Commanders Field. Denver improved to 10-2 and tightened its grip on the AFC West, while Washington fell to 3-9 and extended its losing streak to six despite a physical, spirited performance behind backup quarterback Marcus Mariota.
The Broncos entered the night controlling the AFC West, but their position strengthened thanks to New England’s win earlier in the day. Washington, meanwhile, was once again without injured starter Jayden Daniels, thrusting Mariota into a pressure-filled primetime spotlight.
What followed was a slugfest defined by defensive stands, turnovers, big-play bursts — and ultimately, R.J. Harvey’s overtime heroics.
Early Defensive Duel Sets the Tone
The opening quarter offered more punts and pressure than points. Denver struck first with a 33-yard field goal from Wil Lutz after an 11-play drive stalled in the red zone. Washington had a chance to respond early in the second quarter, but a poor decision from Mariota — a blind jump pass — floated into the hands of Dre Greenlaw, killing a promising drive.
Denver capitalized again with another Lutz kick, stretching the lead to 6-0 in what had become a classic defensive heavyweight matchup.
But Washington struck back when a key unnecessary roughness penalty on Denver extended a drive, allowing Chris Rodriguez Jr. to punch in a short touchdown. Suddenly, Washington held a 7-6 lead with under two minutes left in the half.
Broncos Punch Back Before Halftime
Bo Nix, relatively quiet for much of the half, responded with his sharpest sequence of the night. With urgency spiking, he connected with Courtland Sutton on an 11-yard touchdown that reclaimed the lead before intermission. Denver headed to halftime up 13-7, momentum in its pocket.
The Second-Half Fireworks Begin
Washington opened the third quarter with one of its best drives of the season — a crisp, 72-yard series capped by Treylon Burks’ jaw-dropping one-handed touchdown, a play reminiscent of Odell Beckham Jr.’s iconic 2014 SNF grab. Burks, tightly covered by Riley Moss, reached back with one hand and secured a highlight-level TD that flipped the game back to Washington.
Denver quickly countered. Rookie R.J. Harvey barreled into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown following a fast, four-minute drive, restoring the Broncos’ advantage at 20-14.
But Washington wasn’t done. Bobby Wagner intercepted Nix with a sensational read on a short throw, setting up Jake Moody for a field goal that trimmed the deficit to three. The game tightened again.
Late Drama Forces Overtime
Down 20-17 in the final minutes, Mariota showcased resilience. Despite penalties pushing Washington backward, he executed a clutch drive in the final moments of regulation. Moody drilled a 32-yard field goal with seconds remaining, sending the primetime matchup into overtime at 20-20.
Denver won the toss and wasted no time. Nix ripped a 41-yard catch-and-run to Evan Engram, putting Denver in immediate scoring position. Two plays later, R.J. Harvey punched in his second touchdown of the game, giving the Broncos a 27-20 lead.
Washington needed a touchdown to extend the game. It never came.
Denver’s defense tightened, collapsing the pocket on Mariota and stifling Washington’s final push. The Broncos walked off with their 10th win — and inched closer to securing a division title they haven’t held since the Peyton Manning era.
What This Means Going Forward
For Denver, the win preserves its narrow edge over the Chargers in the AFC West and strengthens its playoff positioning. The defense continues to show championship-caliber resilience, and R.J. Harvey looks more comfortable each week filling in for the injured J.K. Dobbins.
For Washington, the season slips further away. Without Jayden Daniels and with an offense unable to string together consistent scoring drives, their postseason hopes are all but extinguished.
But Sunday night proved the Commanders still have heart — even if heart alone isn’t enough.