Dec. 1 (UPI) — Nik Bonitto darted around the right edge, flailed his casted right hand and swatted away Marcus Mariota’s final pass attempt, denying a game-winning two-point conversion and leading the Denver Broncos past the Washington Commanders for their ninth consecutive victory.
Bonitto’s play capped a hectic 27-26 Sunday Night Football victory in Landover, Md. The Commanders held advantages of 30-23 in first downs, 419-402 in total yards and 35:00 to 32:13 in time of possession, but the Broncos’ elite defense ultimately sealed the triumph.
“We’ve been battle-tested all year,” Bonitto, who also logged a sack, told reporters. “There’s no situation that we’re new to. It was just a matter of just finding another way to win, and we did that.”
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix totaled 321 passing yards and a score, but also threw an interception. Running back R.J. Harvey scored twice in the victory. Mariotta threw for 294 yards, two scores and an interception.
DENVER WINS NINE IN A ROW! pic.twitter.com/4GeC32uSbC— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 1, 2025
Sunday’s game featured four lead changes and was tied 20-20 at the end of regulation. Harvey ran for a 5-yard score on the first possession of overtime. The Commanders responded with an 11-play, 65-yard drive, which ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Mariota to Terry McLaurin.
Mariotta proceeded to take the next snap for a two-point conversion attempt. He drifted back before leaning on his back foot and lofting the ball to his left. But Bonitto, who is wearing a cast to protect his injured wrist, managed to knock the ball out of the air, cementing a Broncos road victory.
Broncos kicker Wil Lutz made a 33-yard field goal on the game’s opening drive for a 3-0 lead. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw intercepted Mariota early in the first quarter, leading to another Lutz field goal and 6-0 edge.
The Commanders answered with an 11-play, 71-yard touchdown drive, capped with an 8-yard Chris Rodriguez run, to take their first lead of the night.
Nix threw an 11-yard touchdown toss to Courtland Sutton on the next possession to give the lead back to the Broncos. Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks hauled in a magnificent one-handed touchdown snag on the first drive of the second half, leading to a 14-13 advantage.
TREYLON BURKS.
CATCH OF THE YEAR?
NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/11WWo3m8X1— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 1, 2025
But Harvey followed with a 1-yard touchdown run about six minutes later. Commanders kicker Jake Moody cut the deficit to three with a 38-yard field goal 2:23 into the fourth quarter. He split the uprights again for a 32-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to force overtime.
Nix completed four-consecutive passes to get the Broncos to the Commanders 5-yard line to start the bonus period. Harvey ran for his second touchdown on the next snap.
Mariota completed a 38-yard pass to Deebo Samuel to get the Commanders to the Broncos 2-yard line on the next drive. He threw his touchdown pass to McLaurin four plays later before being denied on his game-winning attempt.
“The journey of a good team’s season involves games like this,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “And then you believe you can do it again.”
The Broncos (10-2) will look to extend their nine-game winning streak against the Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) at 4:05 p.m. EST Sunday in Las Vegas. The Raiders are on a six-game skid.
The Commanders (3-9), who are on a seven-game losing streak, will take on the Minnesota Vikings (4-8) at 1 p.m. Sunday in Minneapolis.
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