Don’t look now, but the Dallas Cowboys are the NFL’s hottest team
The Dallas Cowboys may be on of the NFL’s hottest teams, but can they make the playoffs? USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett bell breaks it down.
Sports Pulse
A pair of teams heading in opposite directions meet in the Week 13 “Sunday Night Football” matchup.
The Washington Commanders (3-8) defend home turf against the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (9-2) on NBC (8:20 p.m. ET).
The Commanders have endured a nightmare season after a dream NFC championship game run in 2024. The lackluster defense, multiple injuries to Jayden Daniels and an aging roster have all played into the ineffective campaign that sees them firmly in third place of the NFC East.
What’s worse: They’ll again have to navigate this matchup without Daniels, who continues to recover from an elbow injury.
From the outhouse to the penthouse: The Broncos sit comfortably atop the AFC West and are in the driver’s seat as the 2025 NFL season reaches its crescendo. Thanks to a Thanksgiving loss to the Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs‘ reign at the top of the division may be nearing its end.
Still, there’s plenty of season left to go, and any win – or loss – could drastically change the outlook of the NFL playoff picture.
USA TODAY Sports will provide updates, analysis and highlights from the Week 13 “Sunday Night Football” matchup below. All times are Eastern.
The Broncos strike first in this contest with a field goal from Lutz, who converts the 33-yard attempt. It was an 11-play, 59-yard drive that set up the score, but Washington held in the red zone. Now Marcus Mariota and the Commanders’ offense go to work, looking for an answer.
Broncos 3, Commanders 0
If you were looking for some good news in the world on this Sunday night, look no further than the Broncos’ linebacker. It was less than a month ago that Singleton was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which was revealed following a random drug test after the Broncos’ Week 10 win over the Raiders.
The 31-year-old linebacker underwent emergency surgery and now, three weeks later, is making his return to the field having missed only one game. With a new lease on life, Singleton’s story is one that is sure to resonate.
What channel is Commanders vs Broncos Sunday Night Football on?
NBC is the broadcast home of “Sunday Night Football.” Mike Tirico will be on the call alongside Cris Collinsworth. Melissa Stark will provide updates from the sidelines.
Commanders vs Broncos start timeStart time: 8:20 p.m. ET | 6:20 p.m. MT
The “SNF” matchup between the Commanders and Broncos will get underway at 8:20 p.m. ET, the customary start time for “SNF.”
How to watch, live stream ‘SNF’Live stream: Peacock, NFL+TV channel: NBC
Peacock, NBC’s proprietary streaming service, will broadcast “SNF.”
Commanders vs Broncos picks, predictions
Here’s how the expert panel at USA TODAY Sports sees this game shaking out:
Jarrett Bell: Broncos, 23-16Nick Brinkerhoff: Broncos, 27-17Chris Bumbaca: Broncos, 27-21Nate Davis: Broncos, 30-17Tyler Dragon: Broncos, 25-17Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Broncos, 31-16Commanders vs Broncos odds, moneyline, O/USpread: Commanders (-2.5)Moneyline: Commanders (-135), Broncos (+114)Over/Under: 46.5QB Jayden DanielsS Darnell SavageLB Ale KahoLS Tyler OttT Trent ScottT George FantDE Jalyn HolmesTE Nate AdkinsOLB Jonah EllissDL Jordan JacksonDL Sai’Vion JonesOL Geron Christian
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The Commanders are in third place in the NFC East standings.
Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)Washington Commanders (3-8)New York Giants (2-10)
The Steelers are tied with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowl wins with six.
Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups.
The Broncos’ starting running back was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 15. He suffered a foot injury that requires surgery.
Denver’s head coach Sean Payton left the door open for Dobbins to potentially return for the postseason. “Yes. It wouldn’t be soon, but that (Dobbins) has a chance to happen,” Payton told reporters on Nov. 26.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: 42 years oldNick Folk, K, New York Jets: 41 years oldMatt Prater, K, Buffalo Bills: 41 years oldJoe Flacco, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: 40 years oldMatt Prater, K, Arizona Cardinals: 40 years oldCalais Campbell, DL, Arizona Cardinals: 39 years oldMorgan Cox, LS, Tennessee Titans: 39 years oldJ.J. Jansen, LS, Carolina Panthers: 39 years oldThomas Morstead, P, San Francisco 49ers: 39 years oldJon Weeks, LS, San Francisco 49ers: 39 years old
The second-year quarterback participated in the Commanders’ practices all week in a limited capacity, but he has not been cleared for contact. Daniels will miss “Sunday Night Football” in Week 13, but it’s unclear if he will also miss Week 14’s game against the Vikings in Minnesota.
The Broncos enter “Monday Night Football” atop the AFC West.
Denver Broncos (9-2)Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)Kansas City Chiefs (6-6-)Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
Here’s how the AFC shakes out entering “Sunday Night Football” in Week 13:
New England Patriots (10-2; AFC East leaders)Denver Broncos (9-2; AFC West leaders)Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4, AFC South leaders)Baltimore Ravens (6-6; AFC North leaders)Los Angeles Chargers (8-4, wild card No. 1)Indianapolis Colts (8-4; wild card No. 2)Buffalo Bills (8-4, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Houston Texans (7-5); Kansas City Chiefs (6-6); Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6); Miami Dolphins (5-7); Cincinnati Bengals (4-8); New York Jets (3-9); Cleveland Browns (3-9)
Eliminated: Las Vegas Raiders (2-10); Tennessee Titans (1-11)
Here’s how the NFC playoff bracket looks entering “Sunday Night Football” in Week 13:
Chicago Bears (9-3; NFC North leaders)Los Angeles Rams (9-3; NFC West leaders)Philadelphia Eagles (8-4; NFC East leaders)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5; NFC South leaders)Seattle Seahawks (9-3, wild card No. 1)Green Bay Packers (8-3-1, wild card No. 2)San Francisco 49ers (9-4, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Detroit Lions (7-5); Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1); Carolina Panthers (7-6); Atlanta Falcons (4-8); Minnesota Vikings (4-8); Washington Commanders (3-8)
Eliminated: Arizona Cardinals (3-9), New Orleans Saints (2-10), New York Giants (2-10)
Here’s how next year’s first-round order would shake out entering “Sunday Night Football” in Week 13, according to Tankathon.com:
Tennessee Titans: 1-11 record; .569 strength of scheduleNew Orleans Saints: 2-10; .502 SOSNew York Giants: 2-10; .542 SOSLas Vegas Raiders 2-10; .555 SOSCleveland Browns: 3-9; .480 SOSNew York Jets: 3-9; .532 SOSArizona Cardinals: 3-9; .565 SOSWashington Commanders: 3-8; .515 SOSAtlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 4-8; .500 SOSCincinnati Bengals: 4-8; .520 SOSMinnesota Vikings: 4-8; .534 SOSMiami Dolphins: 5-7; .485 SOSKansas City Chiefs: 6-6; .500 SOSPittsburgh Steelers: 6-6; .500 SOSCarolina Panthers: 7-6; .512 SOSDallas Cowboys: 6-5-1; .458 SOSDetroit Lions: 7-5; .510 SOSHouston Texans: 7-5; .539 SOSBaltimore Ravens: 6-6; .502 SOSTampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-5; .502 SOSBuffalo Bills: 8-4; .468 SOSIndianapolis Colts (pick belongs to Jets): 8-4; .500 SOSPhiladelphia Eagles: 8-4; .500 SOSSan Francisco 49ers: 9-4; .488 SOSLos Angeles Chargers: 8-4; .460 SOSJacksonville Jaguars (pick belongs to Browns): 8-4; .493 SOSGreen Bay Packers (pick belongs to Cowboys): 8-3-1; .480 SOSSeattle Seahawks: 9-3; .481 SOSLos Angeles Rams: 9-3; .517 SOSDenver Broncos: 9-2; .448 SOSChicago Bears: 9-3; .444 SOSNew England Patriots: 10-2; .371 SOS
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