Broncos vs Commanders Prediction & Preview: Bo Nix, Denver Chase AFC Top Seed on Sunday Night Football Tonight

The Denver Broncos roll into Sunday Night Football against the Washington Commanders tonight carrying one of the NFL’s hottest streaks, and the matchup has quickly become one of Week 13’s most intriguing storylines for fans across the U.S. Denver arrives at 9–2 with an eight-game winning run and a real shot at the AFC’s top seed, while Washington sits at 3–8 and desperate to stop a six-game slide.

Denver’s surge has been powered by a balanced offense and a quietly stingy defense. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has thrown 18 touchdowns against eight interceptions, steering an attack averaging just over 23 points per game, while the Broncos defense ranks top five in yards and points allowed, giving up just 17.5 points per contest. That combination has made Denver a road favorite despite traveling across the country for a prime-time test in Landover, Maryland.

The Commanders, meanwhile, are turning again to veteran Marcus Mariota at quarterback. Rookie starter Jayden Daniels is still sidelined with a dislocated left elbow, his third straight missed game and sixth absence of the season. Mariota’s mobility offers a different look, but Washington’s challenge is enormous against a Broncos front that stops the run and forces long-yardage situations.

Washington’s biggest boost comes on the perimeter: star receiver Terry McLaurin is set to return after missing most of the last two months with a quad injury. His presence should immediately elevate a passing game that has struggled to find consistency without him and could test Denver’s secondary, which has allowed fewer than 190 passing yards per game. How often Mariota can connect with McLaurin downfield may determine whether the Commanders can keep pace on the scoreboard.

Beyond the X’s and O’s, the game carries major narrative weight. For Denver, extending the winning streak to nine would keep pressure on the conference-leading New England Patriots and reinforce the Broncos’ status as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. For Washington, a national-stage upset over one of the league’s hottest teams could reset the tone of a difficult season and provide a jolt of optimism for a fan base starved for momentum. Either way, Broncos vs. Commanders tonight shapes up as a classic measuring-stick game under the lights.