Broncos Vs. Commanders: Three Bold Predictions For ‘sunday Night Football’ In Week 13

The NFL’s Week 13 Sunday slate will travel to a adjacent astatine Northwest Stadium successful Landover, Md., arsenic nan Commanders invited nan Broncos to nan D.C. area for a prime-time matchup.

Denver enters this 1 riding an awesome nine-game triumph streak down an elite defense and coagulated play by second-year backmost Bo Nix. They're presently 9–2, are successful first spot successful nan AFC West, and if nan play ended today, would clasp nan No. 2 seed successful nan AFC playoffs.

The Commanders, meanwhile, are moving done a disappointing follow-up to their NFC Championship Game quality past season. Not only is Washington 3–8, but they’ve besides mislaid six consecutive games and will erstwhile again beryllium without starting backmost Jayden Daniels arsenic he continues to retrieve from an elbow injury.

With 1 squad trending upward and nan different spiraling, present are 3 bold predictions for Broncos vs. Commanders.

Courtland Sutton has go Bo Nix's apical target. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton has been among nan Broncos’ apical beneficiaries since they selected Nix successful nan first information of past year’s draft.

Over nan past 2 seasons, nan 30-year-old has established himself arsenic Denver’s apical pass-catching threat, logging his 2nd 1,000-yard run successful 2024 while uncovering nan extremity area a full of 12 times. He’s besides go Nix’s go-to option, starring nan squad pinch 81 receptions past twelvemonth and posting a career-high 57 first-down conversions. In 2025, Sutton has picked up correct wherever he near off, already converting 32 first downs—a squad best.

Against a banged-up Commanders secondary connected Sunday night, I expect Sutton to put together his champion outing of nan 2025 campaign. Look for nan seasoned to grounds his 2nd 100-plus gait capacity of nan twelvemonth while uncovering paydirt doubly for nan first clip this season.

Marcus Mariota will beryllium sacked four-plus times by blistering Broncos protect front

Marcus Mariota is taking complete for Jayden Daniels successful Washington. / Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Taking complete successful spot of nan injured Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota has been sacked successful each of his appearances this play while besides being taken down doubly successful 4 of his six starts. Now heading into a title against 1 of nan league's champion protect fronts successful football, nan erstwhile Oregon Ducks has his activity trim retired for him connected Sunday night.

On nan year, nan Broncos lead nan NFL successful sacks (49) and unit complaint (41.3%) while besides logging nan second-most backmost pressures and nan second-highest sack percent (11.2%). Additionally, Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, Zack Allen, John Franklin-Meyers, Ja’Quan McMillian, and Justin Strnac person each logged three-plus sacks connected nan year.

With that, I’m predicting Denver to get aft Mariota connected Sunday nighttime to nan tune of at least 4 sacks—and plentifulness much backmost hits.

Sean Payton has nan Broncos rolling. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

While picking a Broncos triumph whitethorn look evident successful this one, nan measurement I deliberation it’ll hap is what makes it bold.

All things considered (any fixed Sunday, NFL squad vs. NFL team, Commanders astatine home, etc.) Washington should astatine slightest beryllium capable to play this 1 competitively against a Denver squad whose past 3 wins person each travel by conscionable 3 points each.

However, pinch nan Commanders successful free autumn and nan Broncos looking to cement themselves arsenic 1 of nan AFC’s best, look for coach Sean Payton’s squad to travel retired flying successful this 1 and, alternatively than fto their opponents up for air, measurement connected their throats successful what becomes Week 13’s largest separator of victory.

Long communicative short, I’m predicting Denver to triumph this 1 31–10 arsenic they triumph their ninth successful a statement and get themselves to 10–2 connected nan 2025 season.

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