By Blessing Nweke
The Denver Broncos pushed their winning streak to nine games on Sunday night, surviving a dramatic overtime battle to defeat the Washington Commanders 27-26 and maintain their pursuit of the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed. The game came down to the final snap, with linebacker Nik Bonitto sealing the victory by deflecting Marcus Mariota’s two-point conversion attempt with 2:47 left in overtime.
Denver, now 10-2, kept pace with New England atop the AFC and avoided the kind of upset that derailed NFC leader Los Angeles earlier in the day. But the victory didn’t come easily. Despite entering Week 13 with a dominant fourth-quarter profile — including five late comebacks engineered by rookie quarterback Bo Nix — the Broncos were pushed to the brink by a Washington team missing its injured starter, Jayden Daniels.
The Broncos led 13-7 at halftime, though the Commanders controlled the ground game in a way few Denver opponents have managed this season. Denver entered the matchup allowing just 88 rushing yards per game, but Washington piled up 143, becoming the first team in five weeks to surpass 100 rushing yards against the Broncos.
Both teams traded touchdowns to open the second half, but offense then vanished as the next eight drives produced just one score. Washington finally broke the stalemate with an 18-play, 71-yard march capped by Jake Moody’s game-tying field goal as regulation expired.
Overtime brought even more chaos. Denver scored on its opening possession, then believed it had clinched the win with an interception — only for a pass interference call on Talanoa Hufanga to revive Washington’s hopes. The Commanders capitalized with a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass from Mariota to Terry McLaurin.
Washington coach Dan Quinn opted to go for the win, but Bonitto’s leaping deflection ended the upset bid. Nix finished with 321 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Mariota threw for 294 yards, two scores and a pick in the narrow defeat.
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