For nearly an entire year, the Washington Commanders could do no wrong. Last-second wins became the norm as the Cinderella Commanders, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, came one game away from the Super Bowl. If last season’s showing was made for Hollywood, this season has been defined by Murphy’s Law — anything that can go wrong, will gone wrong.
Injuries and inconsistencies have doomed Washington all season long, crushing the feel-good vibes that once surrounded the franchise. Franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels has struggled to remain healthy while the defense has struggled to … well … defend. While Washington looked good, at times, against one of the AFC’s top teams, the results remain frustratingly the same.
On the game’s deciding play, Denver star linebacker Nik Bonitto batted away Marcus Mariota’s pass attempt on a two-point conversion to escape with a 27-26 victory.
Quarterback Bo Nix threw for 321 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the win, as the 10-2 Broncos won their eighth one-score game of the season. The Commanders, meanwhile, are mired in a seven-game losing streak.
Mariota threw for 294 yards, with two touchdowns, one interception and the failed two-point conversion attempt. Tight end Zach Ertz had 10 receptions for 106 yards and receiver Terry McLaurin added seven catches for 96 yards.
Washington’s defense showed signs of competence after head coach Dan Quinn took over play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., but that’s admittedly a low bar. While the Hogs represented one of the best offensive lines in NFL history, this could very well be “lipstick on a pig” territory until an offseason overhaul can be achieved.