I’ll tell you one thing, moving forward for the future of this football team, Treylon Burks is a KEEPER!!!
— Mark Tyler (Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) December 1, 2025
The Washington Commanders again found a way to come up short on Sunday night. However, it was a much different effort this time around, as compared to four weeks ago. The 3-8 Commanders took the 9-2 Denver Broncos to the final play in overtime, before falling 27-26.
The game was full of twists and turns, particularly in the fourth quarter, when three highly questionable calls or non-calls negatively impacted the Commanders. Still, quarterback Marcus Mariota found a way to keep Washington in the game, as tight end Zach Ertz and wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel all had big plays late.
Denver entered the game on an eight-game winning streak and featured one of the NFL’s best defenses. The Commanders finished with 419 yards of total offense against a stout Denver defense.
One of the biggest talking points from this game was the officiating, specifically in the fourth quarter. The NFL world, not just Washington fans, was not happy. Here are some of the best reactions from Sunday’s game.
Treylon Burks’ catch
I AM IN LOVE WITH TREYLON BURKS.
Marry me.
— Steak/Sauna King (@EBJunkies) December 1, 2025Officiating
🚨🚨THE REFS… OH MY🚨🚨
The refs did an expedited review and ruled that #Commanders QB Marcus Mariota was down by contact.
On the replay, you could clearly see that Mariota was down due to an obvious tripping.
No penalty flag was thrown.
INSANE.
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 1, 2025
WHAT ARE THE REFS DOING TO WASHINGTON? MISSED TRIPPING. MOTION WASN’T MOTION. GROUNDING WASN’T GROUNDING.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 1, 2025
lol perfect example of how officiating is a shit show. Misses the tripping call, still found a way to make it work, but then replay ends up screwing the Commanders
— Danny Burke (@dannyburke5) December 1, 2025
Refs review the spot and see that Mariota was down by contact but it was due to obvious tripping which should’ve been a penalty but the refs can’t throw a flag off of a replay… pic.twitter.com/qFq1WeaOO0
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) December 1, 2025
players can’t signal first down too aggressively or else they’ll get fined
any instant repercussions for these horrific officials this week?
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) December 1, 2025
It’s a complete joke that a multi BILLION dollar operation like the NFL doesn’t have full time referees. This has been the worst officiating year I can remember.
— Leder (@Ledertalksports) December 1, 2025
This has been an embarrassing day for @NFL and it’s officiating
So many blatantly missed calls and phantom calls all the way back to Thanksgiving Day.
This is why people are saying NFL is rigged and suspecting gambling/foul play.
Ends with Washington getting screwed
— Josh Dickson (@JD_603) December 1, 2025
I think we need AI Refs.
I know we say it literally every year…. But the officiating feels worse than ever this year.
— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) December 1, 2025Al Galdi
A respectable, professional, admirable performance against a very good team.
And a loss.
The ideal scenario.
The Washington Commanders now have the No. 6-overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.pic.twitter.com/e2T7CLmQLP
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) December 1, 2025Marcus Mariota’s performance
Gotta give Mariota a lot of credit there. Officials screwed them twice and he overcame it.
— Eric Sully (@CommandersRealm) December 1, 2025
Despite the loss, Marcus Mariota has earned the respect of Americans all over the country and NFL fans around the world. This man should be a starting QB for at least a handful of sides with the talent he has. What a great game of football. #RaiseHail #NFL
— ARYA (@lfcaryaa) December 1, 2025
If Mariota didn’t throw every ball 20 inches too high he’d be in the Hall of Fame
— Eric Nathan (@BarstoolNate) December 1, 2025
Marcus Mariota battled his guts out all night long against the NFL’s second best defense and best pass rush. Extremely impressed. He has never been better.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 1, 2025
I simply cannot even fathom trying to explain to someone the quarterback performance that Marcus Mariota had tonight
Carrying a completely dead team against the best defense in the NFL. My goodness.
— Jake Sirkus (@JakeSirkus) December 1, 2025Bobby Wagner
Dan Quinn is determined he will never sit Wagner no matter how much he hurts the defense by being virtually immobile out there. His loyalty to underwhelming veteran players will be his undoing.
— His Imperial Majesty (@Treg2Cole) December 1, 2025
Wagner has the agility of a tungsten cube and yet he still found a way to get picked off
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) December 1, 2025