Broncos vs. Commanders: Key Predictions and Betting Lines for NFL Week 13 Showdown

Teams coming off byes but with different trajectories will clash in the ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup as the Denver Broncos visit the Washington Commanders. Denver (9-2) comes in riding an eight-game winning streak, having recently triumphed over Kansas City 22-19. In contrast, the Washington team has endured six consecutive losses, most recently falling to Miami 16-13 in the historic NFL Madrid Game on November 16.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 PM ET at Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD. The teams have a history of alternating victories in their last eight encounters, with Washington winning in their last clash in 2023. The current odds favor the Broncos by six points while the total points over/under stands at 43.5 according to the SportsLine consensus.

Why the Broncos Can Cover

Denver is 5-3 against the spread during its current win streak, having succeeded in three of its last four contests. In contrast, Washington has not only lost six straight but has also dropped all six against the spread. The Broncos’ defense stands tall, leading the NFL in sacks, allowing the fewest passing touchdowns, and limiting opponent rush yards. Pat Surtain II is set to enhance the defense’s capabilities after recovering from an injury. Meanwhile, Washington’s defense ranks near the bottom, allowing an average of 34 points in the last five games whereas the Broncos have yet to concede 34 points in any game this season.

Why the Commanders Can Cover

The Commanders’ Head Coach Dan Quinn stepped in to manage defensive calls recently, leading the team to a much-improved performance, yielding only 16 points and a season-low of 142 passing yards in their last game. This is encouraging going into Sunday Night, particularly against a Broncos offense that struggles on the road, averaging just 18 points over their last four away games. Although Jayden Daniels remains sidelined, Terry McLaurin is back after an injury layoff.

How to Make Your Picks

The SportsLine model anticipates an total exceeding the points spread, culminating in 45 overall points across the matchup. The model indicates one side of the spread hits significantly over 50 percent of the time.

For further insights and predictions, including which team to back, you can follow along with the SportsLine projections.