Commander Country

Washington Commanders vs. Denver Broncos live updates, score, and highlights

Fresh off the bye week, the Washington Commanders are back at Northwest Stadium for a Week 13 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Joanne Coley|
Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images | Peter Casey-Imagn Images

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Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders are fresh off the bye week and taking on the Denver Broncos for Week 13 at Northwest Stadium.

Jayden Daniels won’t be under center this game, but the Commanders' offense will see star wide receiver Terry McLaurin take the field after being out since week 8 after reaggravating a quad injury.  

Washington sits at 3-8 on the year and is looking to get a win over the Broncos to build some momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

PREGAME

Commanders inactives: QB Jayden Daniels, S Darnell Savage, LB Ale Kaho, LS Tyler Ott, T Trent Scott, T George Fant, DE Jayln Holmes

Broncos inactives: TE Nate Adkins, OLB Jonah Elliss, T Geron Christian, DL Jordan Jackson, DE Sai'vion Jones

1st Quarter

  • The Commanders are back at Northwest Stadium taking on the Denver Broncos for Sunday Night Football. Commanders won the toss and have elected to defer. Broncos with the ball first. Retrieving for the Broncos was Mims. Taken down at the 26.
  • Hand off to Harvey and he takes it up the middle for 11 yards. Harvey again to the right but no gain. Nix rolls out and finds Trautman for a 11 yards and a Broncos first down. Nix with a pass intended for Franklin but is incomplete. Nix is pressured escapes and throws it away that brings up 3rd and 10. Nix to Badie in the middle for a first down. Nix looking deep and finds Franklin for another first down. Hand off to Harvey to the left for a pick up of 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Nix to Engram in the endzone but he's out of bounds. Nix looking for Bryant and that falls incomplete. Broncos attempt a 33 yard field goal and it's GOOD! Broncos on the board first with 3.
  • Deebo on the kick return but doesn't gain much, flag on Broncos for illegal formation. Broncos will kick again. McNichols on the return this time for 11 yards. Commanders take over on the 21. Rodriguez on the run but no gain. Mariota with a dump pass to Bates for 7 yards. 3rd and 3, Mariota to Deebo is complete for a first down. Fake the run and then Mariota to Ertz for 5. Rodriguez with the run and bounce to the outside and picks up the Commanders first down. Rodriguez again up the middle for a yard. Mariota quick pass to Ertz for 5 yards. 3rd and 4, deep pass intended for McLaurin incomplete. Flag on Broncos for illegal contact. Automatic first down for the Commanders.
  • Mariota quick completed pass to Ertz. Hand off to Deebo but doesn't get far. Mariota deep pass to Lane and foes up for it but falls incomplete. Commanders punt it away and Broncos call fair catch.
  • From the 11 yard line, Nix rolls out and can't find anyone so he throws it away. Hand off to McLaughlin for a gain of a yard. 3rd and 9, short pass to Badie for 5 yards, but short of the first down. Broncos go three and out and will punt it away. Lane calls fair catch on the return. Commanders will take it on their 42.
  • Rodriguez on the run with an opening and for 9 yards and short of the first down. Mariota looking for McLaurin, but the ball is tipped and almost intercepted. 3rd and 1, Mariota keeps and gets the first down. Mariota to Ertz for another first down. Hand off to Rodriguez but he doesn't get far and gets wrapped up by Bonnitto. Incomplete pass to Ertz ruled no catch. Now McNichols on the run for a big gain of 16 yards and a first down. End of the first down.

2nd Quarter

  • Rodriguez on the inside run for 4 yards. Next play, pass intercepted by Broncos Greenlaw. Turnover on downs. Nix hand off to Harvey for 3 yards. Hand off again to Harvey for 6. 3rd and 1, Prentice bulls forward for the first down. Next play, balls of the hands of Ingram it falls incomplete. Nix can't find anyone takes off and falls short of the first down. 3rd and 5, Nix to Franklin for 4 yards. Broncos will go for it on fourth down, Nix finds Troutman for a first down and more. Commanders take their first timeout.
  • Harvey on the run to the 20 yard line, a gain of 3. Harvey to the left for 8 yards. Harvey again but taken down by Payne. Harvey on the run again and gets to the 10 yard line. 3rd and 8, Nix scrambles and gets in trouble and can't get the ball out. Broncos settle for a field goal. They lead by 6.
  • Deebo on the return and gets to the 30 yard line. Hand off to Bill and gets close to the 34 yard line. Bill again on the run for 13 yards. Mariota on the next play with a quick pass to Bates and loses the ball but is quickly recovered. Mariota to Deebo for 5 yards. 3rd and 12, Mariota scrambles and gets the Commanders first down to keep the drive going. Mariota keeps again but lose a yard.
  • Next play, Mariota finds Ertz for a 21 yards. Hand off to Bill for 4 yards. Pass to McLaurin for 11 yards. Broncos take their first timeout. Direct snap to Bill but flag on Commanders for illegal formation. Broncos will take another timeout. Mariota tries to take off running and is sacked. Flag on the play unnecessary roughness on Broncos, automatic first down for the Commanders. 1st and goal, Rodriguez up the middle and in the endzone for a touchdown. Extra point is GOOD. Commanders take the lead.
  • Badie on the Broncos return for 27 yards. Nix with the handoff to Harvey for 7 yards. 2-minute warning in effect. Nix looks for Engram and it's short and incomplete. 3rd and 3, Nix underneath to Mims for a first down. Nix trying to avoid a sack and throws the ball incomplete. 2nd and 10, Engram on the catch and the first down. Short left to Sutton for 12 yards. Engram on the pass for 8 yards. Broncos take their final timeout. Nix to Engram for 7 yards. :34 seconds left in the first half, Nix to Badie for no gain. Nix with a short middle pass to Sutton for a TOUCHDOWN. The extra point is GOOD. Broncos take the lead 13-7.
  • Deebo on the return at the 36 yard line he loses the ball, but is able to recover it. Commanders take a knee and will take us into halftime.

HALFTIME: Broncos 13, Commanders 7

3rd Quarter

Commanders have the ball to start the half. Deebo on the return. Commanders will start on the WAS 28. Rodriguez on the run for 6 yards. Mariota fires to Ertz across midfield for 18 yards. Mariota pass to Ertz for 12 yards, flag on the play against Denver for offsides. Next play, Mariota keeps the ball and runs for 19. Rodriguez inside for not much. 2nd and 9, McNichols on the catch but no gain. 3rd and 9, inside the 5 to McLaurin. Direct snap to Deebo but no gain. 2nd and goal, Mariota looks to the back of the endzone for McLaurin but falls incomplete. 3rd and goal, Mariota to finds Burks with the one hand catch for a Commanders TOUCHDOWN. Extra point is GOOD. Commanders take the lead.

  • Mims on the return for the Broncos. Denver will take it on there 28. Pitch to McLaughlin for 2 yards. Nix pass incomplete to Bryant. Nix scrambles for the Broncos first down. Mims to the left for 9 yards. Broncos with the trick play, but Harvey drops the pass. 3rd and 1, Nix scrambles and finds Bryant, but two flags are thrown on the play. Both flags on the offense and will drop them back to the 39 yard line. 3rd and 10, Nix deep pass to Sutton is complete. That's a big gain of 31 yards. Short left pass to Engram for 4 yards. McLaughlin to the left for 1 yard. Nix with a pass to Bryant for 21 yards. Harvey to the left for 2 yards. Harvey to the left again and he gets in the endzone for a Broncos TOUCHDOWN. The extra point is GOOD. Denver takes the lead again.
  • Mariota with a quick pass to McNichols but no gain. Mariota finds McLaurin over the middle for 14 yards. Hand off to McNichols for a run of 6. McNichols to the left for 4 yards and sets up 3rd down. Broncos Jones injured during the play.
  • False start on WAS Tunsil the Commanders move back 5 yards. Mariota then looking for McLaurin with a deep pass but falls incomplete. Commanders will punt away.
  • Harvey on the run but for a yard. Nix with a short right Bryant for 15 yards and that brings up the end of the 3rd quarter.

4th Quarter

  • Nix pass to Sutton is complete. 2nd and 8, deep middle pass to Bryant is incomplete. 3rd and 8, Nix pass is INTERCEPTED by Commanders Bobby Wagner.
  • Mariota pass to Yankoff for 14 yards. Mariota slips and throws the ball incomplete. Mariota with a pass Bates for 2 yards. Mariota with a deep pass to McLaurin is incomplete. Commanders will settle for a field goal making a it a 3 point game.
  • Mims on the return for 18 yards. Nix short pass to Mims for 2 yards. Nix then finds Bryant for 5 yards. On the next play the pocket collapses and Nix is sacked by Commanders Luvu and Denver is forced to punt it away. Crawshaw punt is out of bounds.
  • First play of this drive Mariota hands off to Rodriguez for 5 yards. Mariota keeps and runs to the right for 3 yards. Next play, pass to Deebo falls incomplete. That's a quick three and out for the Commanders they punt it away. Mims calls a fair catch on the return.
  • McLaughlin with a run to the right for 14 yards. Nix scrambles and is in trouble but gets the ball out before getting sacked. Next play, Harvey on the run for 2 yards. Nix then with a pass to Prentice for 11 yards. Harvey on the run for no gain. Brought down by Wagner and Magee. Nix then attempts a short pass but is incomplete. Nix then Engram for 6 yards. Denver punts it away. Touchback on the punt return.
  • Deep right to McLaurin is complete. Bill with the run and he'll gain a yard. Mariota on the next play, scrambles but gets back up and runs but the play is under review and called a sack. 3rd and 21, deep middle pass to Ertz is incomplete. Commanders are forced to punt. Mims returns it to the DEN 29.
  • McLaughlin on the run for no gain. Commanders take a timeout. Then McLaughlin on the run for 6 yards. Commanders take timeout #2. Broncos take timeout #1. Nix pass incomplete over the middle to Sutton. Denver will have to punt it away. Lane on the return but he gets no where. Mariota is looking for Burks but it falls incomplete. 2nd and 10, Mariota can't find anyone so he scrambles and gets the first down. Mariota looks for Burks again but falls incomplete. 2nd and 10, putting it up top but over throws the pass to McLaurin. 3rd and 10, over the middle to Ertz but a shy of the first down. Offense stays out and gives the ball to McNichols for 2 yards and the first down. 2-minute warning in effect.
  • Mariota over the middle to Ertz for another Commanders first down. Whistle and flag on the play against the Commanders for false start. Commanders have elected to take a :10 runoff. Mariota scrambles can't find nobody and throws it away. Flag on the play against the offense for intentional grounding. Commanders will take a :10 runoff again. 2nd and 25, pass to McLaurin is incomplete brings up 3rd and 25. Mariota scrambles and finds McLaurin who is short of the first down. 4th and 6, Commanders go for it and get the pass over the middle to Ertz. Mariota then to Deebo for 10 yards. Flag on the play against Denver for to many men on the field.
  • Mariota with a throw to Deebo for 7 yards. Mariota looks deep but pass incomplete. 3rd and 3, Mariota scrambles for 6 yards and first down. Denver calls timeout #2. Mariota with the deep incomplete pass. 2nd and 10, pass incomplete again. Moddy will attempt a field goal to tie the game and head into overtime.

OVERTIME

  • Commanders will kick the ball. Badie on the return and takes it to DEN 24. Nix underneath to Harvey for 12 yards. Nix over the middle to Troutman for 12 yards. Nix with a short pass to Engram and results in 41 yards. Nix with a short left to Sutton for 6 yards. Next play, Nix to Harvey on the run for 5 yards and a Broncos TOUCHDOWN. Extra point is GOOD.
  • Touchback on the kickoff. Mariota deep to McLaurin for a gain of 20 yards. Mariota deep to Burks but falls incomplete. 2nd and 10, Mariota escapes the sack and scrambles for a gain of 4. 3rd and 6, inside looking for Deebo and it falls incomplete. 4th and 6, Mariota is in trouble and scrambles tries to throw the ball out and is INTERCEPTED but flag on the play against Broncos. First down for the Commanders. McNichols runs for 8 yards.
  • McNichols up the middle but a loss of a yard. Mariota deep pass to McLaurin for a touchdown, but called back flag on the play against Commanders Conerly. 3rd and14, Mariota deep to Deebo and takes it to the 1 yard line. McNichols up the middle but no gain. 2nd and goal, Mariota looking for McLaurin but falls incomplete. 3rd and goal, pass to Ertz goes in and out. 4th and goal, Commanders take first timeout.
  • Mariota to McLaurin for the Commanders TOUCHDOWN. Denver takes their final timeout. Mariota looking and the ball is batted down and Denver comes out with the win.

FINAL: Broncos 27, Commanders 26

READ MORE: Commanders injury report has three out vs. Broncos

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2025 season.

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Joane Coley
JOANNE COLEY

Joanne Coley, from Prince George’s County, MD, is a communications professional passionate about storytelling and sports. She holds a bachelor’s in Communications from Kent State University and a Master’s in Communications/Public Relations from Southern New Hampshire University. Since 2018, she has served as Communications Manager at the Council of the Great City Schools. A foodie and traveler, Joanne is also a former state champion in high school shotput and standout athlete in softball.

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