Studs and duds from Washington Commanders' Week 13 loss to Broncos

The Washington Commanders suffered a disappointing loss on Sunday Night Football in Week 13 in a season that has been full of disappointing losses.

This one stings, though, because the Commanders had a real shot to win this game. The game went to overtime, tied at 20 after Marcus Mariota drove the team down the field at the end of regulation for a field goal. The Broncos scored a touchdown on their first possession in overtime, but the Commanders responded with a score of their own.

Head coach Dan Quinn decided to go for two and the win, but edge-rusher Nik Bonitto swatted down Mariota's pass. The Commanders, as a result, fell 27-26 and moved to 3-9 on the season.

A win here wouldn't have mattered much in the grand scheme of things, but it would have been nice to get a victory for the first time since early October. Now, let's identify the studs and duds from this loss.

Stud: Marcus Mariota, QB

I feel like Marcus Mariota deserves some credit. The quarterback threw the ball a whopping 50 times, and his stat line wasn't the prettiest, but he did enough to win on this night.

Mariota completed 28 of his 50 passes for 294 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The veteran also rushed 10 times for 55 yards and was the team's leading rusher on the night. Mariota had his team in position to win, with clutch drives in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Dud: Offensive line

The offensive line needed to play its best game tonight against a tough Denver defense, and that didn't happen. The unit allowed two sacks, eight tackles for loss, and was penalized three times.

The unit had a hard time getting push on the Denver front. There also weren't many running lanes being opened, as Mariota had more success on the ground than any of the running backs did.

Stud: Zach Ertz

Zach Ertz needed two catches in this game to pass Shannon Sharpe for 5th all-time in catches by a tight end. The veteran got three catches in the first quarter alone, but he wasn't done.

Ertz finished the night with 10 catches for 106 yards. The veteran did drop a touchdown catch in overtime, but it didn't matter, as the Commanders went on to score anyway. It was the best game of the season for Ertz, and this loss definitely can't be blamed on him.

Dud: Pass defense

The Commanders allowed Bo Nix to throw for 321 yards on Sunday night. That was just the second time Nix has eclipsed the 300-yard mark in 2025.

The Broncos typically have more success on the ground than through the air, but that was reversed tonight. The run defense was actually solid, but Nix got pretty much whatever he wanted through the air. Tight end Evan Engram, in particular, gashed the defense, and Courtland Sutton also ended with 62 yards and a touchdown. This team needs multiple corners and safeties in the offseason.

Stud: Bobby Wagner, LB

Don't get me wrong, Bobby Wagner didn't have a perfect game. The linebacker has clearly lost a step, and he struggles in coverage, especially against more athletic pass-catchers.

However, Wagner led the Commanders in tackles with eight, and also added one pass deflection and an interception. That interception led to points for the Commanders and stopped the Broncos from driving again. Wagner is still a solid player, just not for every single down in a game.

Stud: Terry McLaurin, WR

Terry McLaurin returned, catching seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. He also had one touchdown called back due to offensive holding. McLaurin's impact was felt as Washington's offense was less predictable and the Commanders were able to move the ball through the air against one of the NFL's best defenses. Washington is thrilled to have McLaurin back.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Studs and duds from Week 13 loss to Broncos