Broncos outlast Commanders in wildest finish yet

For whatever reason, the Denver Broncos continue to play up or down to their competition in almost every game this season. I’ll chalk it up to them being a young, inexperience team, but boy is it frustrating to watch as a fan. This week was the week that the defense finally struggled for an entire game. They still kept points off the board in key areas, but in a close game the Washington Commanders were able to move the ball at will late in the fourth quarter to tie things up and send the game into overtime.

The defense was just too gassed to make any stops when it mattered late. Yet, when the Commanders lined up for the win they had a wide open guy for the completion, but Nik Bonitto made the play of the game to deflect the pass and send the Broncos to 10-2. This may have been the Broncos wildest finish yet in 2025.

Broncos vs. Commanders final score

Team

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

OT

Final

Denver Broncos

3

10

7

0

7

27

Washington Commanders

0

7

7

6

6

26

First Quarter

The Broncos offense had a nice first drive, but outside of that they did nothing as is typical of their offensive inefficiencies in 2025. The defense, however, continued a streak of games of holding teams to no touchdowns on their opening drive — extended the NFL-best streak to 15 consecutive games.

However, the Commanders offense looked pretty good to start the game. They focused on the short, quick passing game to keep the Broncos defense off-balance and it was working in the first quarter despite the lack of points.

Broncos 3, Commands 0. Full first quarter recap.

Second Quarter

The Broncos’ defense struggled throughout the first half being gashed for 10+ yard plays early and often. However, a timely interception inside the five yard line and third down stops just outside of field goal range kept the Commanders off the scoreboard for much of the first half.

That gave the Broncos offense a chance to put more points on the board with another scoring drive in the second quarter. The points would come after a fourth down conversion throw from Nix to Adam Trautman to get them into field goal range where they would ultimately kick a field goal.

Then the Commanders offense finally got the breaks they would need against the Broncos defense to march down the field for a touchdown aided by a very questionable penalty on Nik Bonitto who was shoved to the ground by an offensive lineman after pulling a guy off his guy. It seemed a bit ticky tack, so instead of a 2nd and forever it became a first and goal that turned into the game’s first touchdown.

Bo Nix and the Broncos offense, responded, though. On a drive that featured a lot of Evan Engram who caught several passes for first downs. The drive was capped by one heck of a throw by Nix to Courtland Sutton to retake the lead before halftime.

With all of the momentum against Denver, having Nix steal some of it back with such a great throw was huge for the Broncos at that moment in the game.

Broncos 13, Commanders 7. Full second quarter recap.

Third Quarter

Both teams traded touchdown drives in the quarter. The Commanders struck first with their opening drive, but the Broncos came back with a long drive of their own. Bo Nix converted three third downs with some big pass plays capping the 11-play, 72 yard drive with back-to-back runs inside the five yard to RJ Harvey who did not disappoint.

The issues on defense were not getting fixed, but they were making just enough plays to keep the Commanders from scoring again in the quarter.

Broncos 20, Commanders 14. Full third quarter recap.

Fourth Quarter

The fourth quarter began with a really bad interception by Bo Nix who never saw Bobby Wagner in the middle of the field to give the Commanders the ball at the Broncos 36-yard line. Mariota continued to attack with his tight ends to get Washington into scoring position. Denver’s defense would hold, but the field goal would cut the Broncos lead to three.

The teams would trade punts before Denver would get a little something going on offense again. A nice 12-yard run by Jaleel McLaughlin to start things off, then a third down conversion to Adam Prentice got the Broncos out near midfield. That would be all they’d get and would be forced to punt it away with five minutes left in regulation.

A sack finally surfaced for the Broncos defense on the next drive to put them into a third and 21. A deep pass to an open Zach Ertz was broken up at the last second to force the punt.

With three and a half minutes, the Broncos offense needed to put the game away with a drive of their own. However, with the run game totally ineffective all game, they were in an unfortunate situation of needing to throw the ball despite being in the lead. They did that after the first down run was stuffed, with a short pass to Jaleel McLaughlin to setup a third and four.

They would not convert and setup the drama for a final Washington Commanders possession. From their own 15 yard line, they would march down the field and get to midfield. However, a false start and an intentional grounding penalty would push them back into a second and 25. A Riley Moss pass breakup made it third and 25. A soft defense allowed a 19 yard completion to Terry McLaurin to bring up a fourth and six. Mariota found Zach Ertz open over the middle for a first down… again.

That was the death blow for a defense that had struggled the entire game. They would hold inside the 15-yard line, but the Commanders would tie things up to send the game into overtime.

Broncos 20, Commanders 20.

Overtime

The Broncos got the ball to start overtime. A quick pass underneath to RJ Harvey was completed on the first play. He turned it upfield for a 12-yard gain. Another pass to Adam Trautman on the next play picked up 13-yards to get the Broncos near midfield in just two plays. Nix would then find Evan Engram over the middle who cut through defenders for a 42-yard gain into the red zone.

A quick pass to Sutton gained six yards to the five yard line. Then RJ Harvey would score on the next play from five yards out to put the Broncos back up by a touchdown.

The momentum felt like it had been Washington’s for the previous two hours in real time, but a quick three minute touchdown drive in overtime really changed that in a big way. The Commanders had to score a touchdown to keep the game alive.

Officials continued to keep things alive on a fourth and six with a defensive pass interference call on Talanoa Hufanga to keep the Commanders drive going. They would score three plays later, but the officiating crew called holding on Washington negate the game-tying score. Deebo Samuel then torched Riley Moss on the very next play to get the ball down to the one yard line.

After a stuffed run and two incompletions, the Commanders were faced with a fourth and goal from the three yard line. Mariota would hit Terry McLaurin on fourth down for the touchdown. The two-point try would be blown up by Nik Bonitto to secure the Broncos win in a wild finish.

Broncos 27, Commanders 26.