Marcus Mariota discusses Commanders going for game-winning conversion in loss to Broncos

In overtime of the "Sunday Night Football" game between the Denver Broncos and the Washington Commanders, Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota connected with wide receiver Terry McLaurin for a short touchdown pass that decreased Denver's lead to 27-26. 

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn kept his offense on the field to attempt what could have become a game-winning two-point conversion. However, Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto batted down a Mariota pass to secure the victory for the visitors. Following the defeat that dropped Washington to 3-9 on the season, Mariota addressed Quinn's decision for the game's final snap.

Marcus Mariota loved that Commanders played for the win

"I loved it," Mariota explained, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "I don’t think there was any doubt in our minds across the board. I appreciate the confidence from Q. It was just unfortunate we were unable to convert." 

As Jeff Legwold of ESPN shared, Broncos head coach Sean Payton called a timeout after he saw Washington's initial alignment for the two-point try. Payton and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph then changed their call to allow Bonitto to make a walk-off stop. 

Quinn and Co. likely felt like they were playing with house money on Sunday night when Mariota was making his sixth start of the season in place of injured QB1 Jayden Daniels. Daniels hasn't played since he suffered a dislocated left elbow on Nov. 2. Meanwhile, Mariota has gone 1-5 as Washington's fill-in starter. 

As of Monday morning, the ESPN Football Power Index gave the Commanders a 0.0 percent chance to make the playoffs. With nothing to lose outside of the game, Quinn knew well ahead of time he'd play for the win if given a chance to do so. 

When Dan Quinn knew he'd go for two and the win

"Going into the overtime spot, I thought that would be the way we would go," Quinn said during his postgame comments. "That was the strategy all along. It was a play we like. It got batted down, but against man-to-man, that’s one that we practice a lot, and we liked it. I hate the outcome, but there was no hesitation. I know when we started, we’re going to score and we’re going to go for two." 

Daniels wants to play again this season despite Washington's record, but the club could shut him down to save him for 2026. The Commanders next face the Minnesota Vikings (4-8) at Minnesota's U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 7. On Monday, DraftKings Sportsbook had Washington as a 1.5-point favorite for that game.