Denver Broncos Edge Commanders in Overtime Thriller: Bo Nix Leads 9th Straight Win as Dan Quinn’s 2-Point Gamble Backfires

The Denver Broncos extended their remarkable surge with a dramatic 27-26 overtime victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, a result that dominated NFL conversation today across the country. Denver’s win, their ninth straight, underscored a team surging toward the playoffs, while Washington absorbed its seventh consecutive loss in a season increasingly defined by frustration and near-misses.

In overtime, Denver rookie quarterback Bo Nix coolly directed a methodical drive capped by running back RJ Harvey punching in a short touchdown, putting the Broncos ahead 27-20. The Commanders answered with an 11-play march of their own, climaxing with Marcus Mariota firing a slant to Terry McLaurin for a goal-line touchdown that pulled Washington within one and set up the game’s defining decision.

Rather than kick the extra point and extend the game, Commanders coach Dan Quinn chose aggression, leaving his offense on the field for a two-point try and the win. Mariota spotted running back Jeremy McNichols breaking free in the flat, but Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto knifed through and batted the pass down at the line, sealing the overtime classic and sending Denver’s sideline into celebration.

The ending crystallized the contrast between the two franchises right now. Denver, now 10-2, looks like an AFC heavyweight, riding a balanced attack and clutch defensive moments. Nix threw for more than 300 yards, repeatedly finding Courtland Sutton and tight end Evan Engram, including a 41-yard overtime strike to Engram that set up Harvey’s decisive score. The Broncos’ offense showed poise under pressure, while their defense made just enough high-impact plays, none bigger than Bonitto’s game-saving swat.

Washington, meanwhile, fell to 3-9, but today’s analysis out of the Commanders’ camp emphasized signs of life. The offense piled up over 400 yards, their best output since Week 1, leaning on a rejuvenated McLaurin and veteran tight end Zach Ertz, who worked the middle of the field all night. A physical ground game, highlighted by Chris Rodriguez Jr., kept Denver’s vaunted pass rush relatively quiet.

Still, turnovers, penalties and red-zone execution again haunted the Commanders. Mariota’s early interception and multiple drive-killing flags helped put Washington in a constant uphill battle. Quinn praised his team’s “fight,” but on a night when a bold two-point gamble fell inches short, Washington woke up today facing a harsh reality: moral victories don’t change the standings, and the Broncos just showed how thin the line is between resilience and a full-blown contender.