There’s no such thing as a moral victory in the NFL, and the Washington Commanders knew it. After a hard-fought 27-26 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos, the locker room mood was somber. Despite moments of grit and big plays, the team was left with another narrow defeat that dropped them to 3–9 for the season.
Washington showed resilience throughout the matchup, trading leads with Denver in a game defined by missed opportunities and late-game drama. The Commanders’ defense battled to contain Russell Wilson, who ultimately led a clutch drive in overtime to seal the Broncos' win. Washington’s offensive flashes weren’t enough to offset costly penalties and red zone inefficiency.
“We didn’t execute when it mattered. That’s on us,” said quarterback Sam Howell postgame.
Running back Brian Robinson Jr. contributed key plays in the running game, while Terry McLaurin’s consistent receiving kept the team in contention. Still, turnovers and missed tackles proved decisive down the stretch.
The loss extends a frustrating season for Washington, who must now look ahead with hopes of finding consistency in the final stretch. Denver, meanwhile, continues its midseason resurgence with another close win.
“When you play tight games like this, it’s the small details that decide the outcome,” coach Ron Rivera reflected.
A tough overtime loss encapsulated Washington’s season-long struggles — effort and flashes of promise undone by critical mistakes and missed chances.