The Washington Commanders' sensational run to the NFC Championship game in 2024 put them back in the national spotlight. It was a long time coming, as reflected by the number of stand-alone games head coach Dan Quinn's squad was given before the campaign.
Things haven't gone well. Whether having no genuine routine has held Washington back is debatable, but Quinn isn't looking for excuses. The Commanders are 3-8, going nowhere fast, despite much more being expected of them. Their loss against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11 typified the poor execution and sloppy individual errors that have blighted the team's efforts in 2025.
There is a lot for Quinn to ponder during the bye week. When they return, the Commanders will be on Sunday Night Football against the Denver Broncos. Another prime time game, and any fans who wanted the contest to be flexed are reportedly out of luck.
NFL is not going to flex Commanders out of prime time in Week 13
According to Nicki Jhabvala from The Athletic, there are no plans to flex out Washington's clash with Denver in favor of a more enticing fixture. That came with dismay among sections of the fan base, who would be happier with the Commanders going back to the fringes until they become more competitive. Alas, they are still a big market team that draws ratings, and the Broncos are 9-2 with ambitions of reaching the Super Bowl growing with every passing week.
Unless several established figures return from injury, this encounter should be pretty one-sided. The Broncos' defense is nothing short of sensational, and they could get reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year cornerback Patrick Surtain II back by this point. Although their offense hasn't been firing on all cylinders, they've got more than enough to cause problems for the Commanders.
This doesn't exactly seem like the most enticing prime-time game for casual fans, especially given how many beatdowns the Commanders have suffered on the national stage already this season. But despite fans' and analysts' pleas to switch games, the league is refusing to budge from its original stance.
It's not hard to see why this was chosen for the national stage before the campaign. The Commanders and Broncos were both expected to challenge. Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix were second-year quarterbacks who took the league by storm as rookies. But it would be a massive shock if the former LSU standout was able to feature after dislocating his elbow.
This feels like a punishment for Washington fans and NFL watchers in general. Hopefully, the Commanders can refocus and adjust enough to put up a fight and avoid another prime-time humiliation.