Mariota’s Grit Shines in a Wild Week 13 Overtime Battle
When you look back at Week 13, one of the performances that really stands out is Marcus Mariota’s. It was the kind of game where every snap felt like a fresh twist, and Mariota kept showing up with one big play after another. Even though Washington ultimately fell short in overtime, his 349-yard showing became one of the defining storylines of the night.
As the game unfolded, it felt like Mariota was determined to drag the Commanders into every moment. Some of his throws were so precise that the ball almost seemed magnetized to his receivers. One of the biggest highlights came in overtime when he launched a perfect 38-yard strike to Deebo Samuel. That pass wasn’t just pretty — it was clutch, dropping exactly where it needed to be and setting Washington right on the edge of the goal line. The entire drive had a sense of momentum that Mariota created almost single-handedly.
Before that, he opened the Commanders’ overtime possession with a confident 20-yard connection to Terry McLaurin, setting the tone early. And then there was the fourth-down touchdown laser to McLaurin that tightened the game to 27–26. That throw had absolutely no margin for error — the kind of play where hesitation kills the moment — but Mariota delivered it with total conviction.
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His mobility also played a big part in the Commanders’ offensive rhythm. One designed run saw him slice through the Broncos’ defense for 18 yards, getting Washington deep into scoring territory. That kind of versatility kept Denver guessing throughout the night.
And then, of course, there was the play that will be replayed for weeks: the one-handed touchdown snag by Treylon Burks, thrown perfectly by Mariota. It happened exactly ten years after Odell Beckham Jr.’s iconic “Sunday Night Football” catch, and this one immediately invited comparisons. Burks still had to do the acrobatics, but Mariota put the ball where only his guy could make a play. It was one of those throws where you could tell the quarterback trusted his receiver completely.
There were setbacks too. His potential go-ahead pass in overtime was swatted down by Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto on a perfectly timed blitz. It was the kind of defensive play that ends games instantly, and unfortunately for Washington, that’s exactly what it did.
But the larger story? Mariota kept his team alive all night. He stepped into a starting role while Jayden Daniels recovered from injury, and he didn’t just manage the game — he attacked it. Throws across the middle, sideline timing routes, off-platform darts, red-zone strikes — all of it was on full display.
Even in a loss, Mariota’s Week 13 performance showed poise, toughness, and playmaking that demanded attention. It was the kind of game where the quarterback left everything on the field, and everybody watching could feel it.
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