The Washington Commanders will be looking to end their six-game losing skid when they host the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.
The Broncos are 9-2, but the Commanders are well-rested after their bye week and will return some key contributors. Marcus Mariota is suiting up at quarterback again as Jayden Daniels misses another week, but star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, safety Will Harris, and more will provide reinforcements for Washington.
The expectation should be that Washington keeps this one competitive, especially against a Broncos team that's due for some regression in luck. Let's throw out some bold predictions for how Week 13 might go.
Wildly bold Commanders' predictions for prime-time clash against Broncos
Defense keeps the Commanders in the game
All season long, the doom and gloom in Washington has centered around the struggles on the defensive side of the ball. That's not going to be the case this week against a Broncos squad that makes you play by their rules. Denver ranks a middling 14th in offensive yards per game and 16th in points per game, but Sean Payton's group every contest into a rock fight.
Points will be hard to come by for the Commanders, but just as well for the Broncos, especially if Washington's front can generate pressure and force quarterback Bo Nix out of rhythm. The unit looked much-improved against the Miami Dolphins in Madrid after head coach Dan Quinn took over defensive coordinator duties, and they'll build on that again.
Jake Moody is forced into action early and often
The newest member of the Commanders will be making his team debut at quite the opportune time, against a Broncos team that leads the NFL — by a wide margin — in red zone defense. Denver has held opponents to only a 35.7 percent touchdown rate after crossing the opposing 20-yard line, more than seven percentage points better than the next-closest team.
The Broncos' defense doesn't often bend, and it certainly doesn't break. If Washington can move the ball well, don't be surprised to see a few drives stall out in positions that are highly convenient to test the Commanders' new kicker.
Washington ekes out an identity-defining ugly win
You want bold? Let's go bold, as they say in the NFL: any given Sunday.
Nearly every week, there's at least one result nobody saw coming. Washington has dropped six in a row while Denver has won eight straight, and both of those streaks are due to close.
The Broncos are not as good as their record. They've eked out wins in close games all year, some of which have been the result of flawless execution in key moments, but much of it has been luck. Washington has been on the opposite end of the spectrum, with injuries and a brutal schedule making them look worse than they are.
The Commanders are getting healthier, and they're coming off their bye. Most importantly, they have home-field advantage. This feels like the type of game Washington hangs around in, and finally gets a few breaks to go their way.
Their losing streak will end the same way it began: on a walk-off Moody field goal. Stranger things have happened.