Final2021 Week 8

Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Washington Commanders vs Denver Broncos, Week 8 2021

Washington Commanders

Away

10

Denver Broncos

HomeWon

17

Scoring by quarter
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Commanders037010
Broncos0100717

WAS 10DEN 17 Final

  • Passing leader

    Taylor Heinicke

    WAS · QB

    13.8PPR pts

    24/39, 270 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT

  • Top fantasy scorer

    Melvin Gordon III

    DEN · RB

    19.2PPR pts

    10 ATT, 47 YDS, 1 TD, 3 REC, 15 REC YDS, 1 REC TD

  • Commanders leader

    J.D. McKissic

    WAS · RB

    17.3PPR pts

    3 ATT, 10 YDS, 8 REC, 83 REC YDS

  • Defensive playmaker

    Justin Simmons

    DEN

    2 INT, 7 TKL

Broncos 17, Commanders 10: Denver beats Washington

Denver led 10–3 at halftime to win 17–10. Washington outgained the Broncos 342–273, but the Broncos averaged 5.4 yards per play.

The Commanders went 5-for-14 on third down and committed two turnovers.

Key advantages

  • +0.4 yards/play DEN 5.4 · WAS 5.0
  • +1 turnover margin DEN 1 · WAS 2 turnovers
  • +18% third-down rate DEN 54% · WAS 36%

Game Highlights

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

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Why the Broncos Won

Denver won the efficiency, turnover, and third-down battles.

Team stats comparison, Commanders vs Broncos
CommandersStatBroncos
5.0Yards per play5.4
2Turnovers1
36%Third-down conversion54%
Other team stats
342Total yards273
68Plays51
31:50Time of possession28:10

Scoring Summary

The Broncos scored two touchdowns and one field goal; the Commanders scored one touchdown and one field goal.

Scoring plays, Commanders vs Broncos
TimeTeamPlayWASDEN
1st quarter
No scoring
2nd quarter
10:27DENBrandon McManus 45-yard FG Takes lead03
5:25WASChris Blewitt 52-yard FG Ties game33
1:11DENTeddy Bridgewater → Melvin Gordon III, 15-yard TD Takes leadBrandon McManus XP310
3rd quarter
0:38WASTaylor Heinicke → DeAndre Carter, 20-yard TD Ties gameChris Blewitt XP1010
4th quarter
4:27DENMelvin Gordon III 7-yard TD run Game winnerBrandon McManus XP1017

Fantasy Points: Commanders vs Broncos, Week 8 2021

Fantasy leaders

  1. Melvin GordonDENRB18.2 PTSRB11
  2. J.D. McKissicWASRB17.3 PTSRB15
  3. DeAndre CarterWASWR14.1 PTSWR24
  4. Teddy BridgewaterDENQB12.6 PTSQB20

Player Stats

Quarterbacks

Quarterback statistics
PlayerFPTSFINCMP/ATTPass YDSTDINTRush ATTRush YDSRush TDRateStart/Sit
Taylor HeinickeWASQB11.8QB2224/3927012110069.4
Teddy BridgewaterDENQB12.6QB2019/2621310110109.9

WRs, RBs, & TEs

Receiver, running back and tight end statistics
PlayerFPTSFINPOSRush ATTRush YDSRush TDTGTRECRec YDSRec TDStart/Sit
Melvin GordonDENRB18.2RB11RB1047133151
J.D. McKissicWASRB17.3RB15RB310088830
DeAndre CarterWASWR14.1WR24WR———63511
Tim PatrickDENWR9.4WR44WR———33640
Antonio GibsonWASRB8.4RB35RB834033200
Jerry JeudyDENWR7.9WR56WR10044390Start/Sit →
Javonte WilliamsDENRB6.8RB45RB935042130Start/Sit →
Terry McLaurinWASWR6.5WR61WR112073230Start/Sit →
Albert OkwuegbunamDENTE6.4TE21TE———33340
Courtland SuttonDENWR6.0WR62WR———42400Start/Sit →
Adam HumphriesWASWR5.5WR66WR———32350
Jaret PattersonWASRB4.6RB51RB114601000
Dax MilneWASWR3.2WR83WR———21220
Ricky Seals-JonesWASTE3.2TE39TE———42120
Cam SimsWASWR3.0WR85WR———21200
Noah FantDENTE2.8TE41TE———4280Start/Sit →
John BatesWASTE1.4TE51TE———1140Start/Sit →

Fantasy Usage

Washington Commanders

Snap Share

  1. Ricky Seals-JonesTE70 snaps100%
  2. Terry McLaurinWR61 snaps87%
  3. DeAndre CarterWR49 snaps70%
  4. Adam HumphriesWR44 snaps63%
  5. J.D. McKissicRB32 snaps46%

Target Share37 targets

  1. J.D. McKissic22%, 8 targets
  2. Terry McLaurin19%, 7 targets
  3. DeAndre Carter16%, 6 targets
  4. Ricky Seals-Jones11%, 4 targets
  5. Adam Humphries8%, 3 targets
  6. Other24%, 9 targets

Carry Share24 carries

  1. Jaret Patterson46%, 11 carries
  2. Antonio Gibson33%, 8 carries
  3. J.D. McKissic13%, 3 carries
  4. Taylor Heinicke4%, 1 carries
  5. Terry McLaurin4%, 1 carries

Denver Broncos

Snap Share

  1. Tim PatrickWR50 snaps94%
  2. Courtland SuttonWR46 snaps87%
  3. Noah FantTE41 snaps77%
  4. Jerry JeudyWR38 snaps72%
  5. Melvin GordonRB30 snaps57%

Target Share25 targets

  1. Courtland Sutton16%, 4 targets
  2. Noah Fant16%, 4 targets
  3. Jerry Jeudy16%, 4 targets
  4. Javonte Williams16%, 4 targets
  5. Melvin Gordon12%, 3 targets
  6. Other24%, 6 targets

Carry Share21 carries

  1. Melvin Gordon48%, 10 carries
  2. Javonte Williams43%, 9 carries
  3. Teddy Bridgewater5%, 1 carries
  4. Jerry Jeudy5%, 1 carries
View full usage tableHide full usage table
Offensive snaps and share for the skill positions
PlayerSNAPSSNAP %TGTTGT %CAR
Ricky Seals-JonesWASTE70100%411%0
Tim PatrickDENWR5094%312%0
Terry McLaurinWASWR6187%719%1
Courtland SuttonDENWR4687%416%0
Noah FantDENTE4177%416%0
Jerry JeudyDENWR3872%416%1
DeAndre CarterWASWR4970%616%0
Adam HumphriesWASWR4463%38%0
Melvin GordonDENRB3057%312%10
Albert OkwuegbunamDENTE2649%312%0
J.D. McKissicWASRB3246%822%3
Javonte WilliamsDENRB2343%416%9
Antonio GibsonWASRB2333%38%8
Dax MilneWASWR2130%25%0
Jaret PattersonWASRB1623%13%11
Cam SimsWASWR1521%25%0
John BatesWASTE1521%13%0
Eric SaubertDENTE713%00%0
Antonio Gandy-GoldenWASTE34%00%0
Kendall HintonDENWR24%00%0
Mike BooneDENRB12%00%0
Andrew BeckDENRB12%00%0

Fantasy Points vs Expected

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

  • Biggest overperformer+7.7Melvin Gordon III19.2 PTS vs 11.5 xFP
  • Biggest underperformer−5.9Terry McLaurin6.5 PTS vs 12.4 xFP
  • Highest expected volume17.8 xFPTaylor Heinicke13.8 PTS scored
Usage and expected fantasy points
PlayerPTSxFPvs xFPSnap%UsageRte%Pass attCarCar%TgtTgt%
Taylor HeinickeWAS · QB13.817.8−4.0100%39 att—3914%00%
J.D. McKissicWAS · RB17.315.4+1.946%22% tgt—0313%822%
Javonte WilliamsDEN · RB6.812.5−5.743%43% car—0943%416%
Terry McLaurinWAS · WR6.512.4−5.987%19% tgt—014%719%
Teddy BridgewaterDEN · QB12.612.1+0.5100%26 att—2615%00%
Melvin Gordon IIIDEN · RB19.211.5+7.757%48% car—01048%312%
Antonio GibsonWAS · RB8.410.2−1.833%33% car—0833%38%
DeAndre CarterWAS · WR14.110.1+4.070%16% tgt—000%616%
Jaret PattersonWAS · RB4.68.7−4.123%46% car—01146%13%
Jerry JeudyDEN · WR7.97.4+0.572%16% tgt—015%416%
Courtland SuttonDEN · WR6.06.7−0.787%16% tgt—000%416%
Noah FantDEN · TE2.86.7−3.977%16% tgt—000%416%
Ricky Seals-JonesWAS · TE3.26.7−3.5100%11% tgt—000%411%
Adam HumphriesWAS · WR5.55.1+0.463%8% tgt—000%38%
Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.DEN · TE6.45.1+1.349%12% tgt—000%312%
Tim PatrickDEN · WR9.45.1+4.394%12% tgt—000%312%
Cam SimsWAS · WR3.03.4−0.421%5% tgt—000%25%
Dax MilneWAS · WR3.23.4−0.230%5% tgt—000%25%
John BatesWAS · TE1.41.7−0.321%3% tgt—000%13%

Team totals: Commanders 37 targets and 24 carries; Broncos 25 targets and 21 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts are from the weekly player logs (Sleeper), and include plays wiped out by penalties. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2021 season: 1.68 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.64 per carry and 0.44 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Taylor Heinicke

WAS · QB · 13.8 pts on 17.8 expected

24 of 39 passing for 270 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions; 1 carry for 10 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 17.8 expected.

Teddy Bridgewater

DEN · QB · 12.6 pts on 12.1 expected

19 of 26 passing for 213 yards, 1 touchdown; 1 carry for 1 yard.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 12.1 expected.

J.D. McKissic

WAS · RB · 17.3 pts on 15.4 expected

8 targets (22% of the team's), 8 catches for 83 yards; 3 carries (13% of the team's) for 10 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 15.4 expected.

Terry McLaurin Unlucky

WAS · WR · 6.5 pts on 12.4 expected

7 targets (19% of the team's), 3 catches for 23 yards; 1 carry (4% of the team's) for 12 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 12.4 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Terry McLaurin →

Javonte Williams Unlucky

DEN · RB · 6.8 pts on 12.5 expected

4 targets (16% of the team's), 2 catches for 13 yards; 9 carries (43% of the team's) for 35 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 12.5 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Javonte Williams →

Melvin Gordon III Ran hot

DEN · RB · 19.2 pts on 11.5 expected

3 targets (12% of the team's), 3 catches for 15 yards and 1 touchdown; 10 carries (48% of the team's) for 47 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 11.5 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

DeAndre Carter Short-yardage role

WAS · WR · 14.1 pts on 10.1 expected

6 targets (16% of the team's), 3 catches for 51 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 10.1 expected.

Jaret Patterson

WAS · RB · 4.6 pts on 8.7 expected

1 target (3% of the team's), 0 catches for 0 yards; 11 carries (46% of the team's) for 46 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 8.7 expected.

Stock Up, Stock Down

Washington Commanders

  • Stock up: J.D. McKissic led the backfield with 46% of the snaps after trailing Antonio Gibson before this game.
  • Stock up: DeAndre Carter played 70% of the snaps, up from a 26% season average.
  • Stock up: Jaret Patterson played 23% of the snaps, up from a 5% season average.

Denver Broncos

  • Stock up: Jerry Jeudy played 72% of the snaps, up from a 47% season average.

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2021 through Week 18.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Commanders defense and Broncos defense
Points allowed toCommanders DBroncos D
QBs22.115.8
RBs21.921.4
WRs36.029.8
TEs12.98.5

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

Denver opened at 62% win probability and passed 98% in the fourth quarter on the way to the win.

Broncos win probability

Broncos win probability by game minuteBroncos started at 62%, stood at 83% at halftime and finished at 100%, across 5 scoring plays.Q1Q2Q3Q4100%50%0%

Key Swings

  1. +10McManus 45-yd FG60% → 70%Q2 10:27
  2. −11Blewitt 52-yd FG70% → 59%Q2 5:25
  3. +24Bridgewater → Gordon, 15-yd TD58% → 82%Q2 1:11
  4. −32Heinicke → Carter, 20-yd TD88% → 56%Q3 0:38
  5. +44Gordon 7-yd TD run53% → 98%Q4 4:27

Swing in Broncos win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Commanders vs Broncos
Washington CommandersMeasureDenver Broncos
68Plays51
65%Pass rate59%
5.2Yds / dropback6.3
4.7Yds / carry4.0
5/14Third downs7/13

Efficiency edge Denver ran 17 fewer plays but gained 1.1 more yards per dropback.

  • Top targets
  • WAS McKissic 22% · McLaurin 19% · Carter 16%
  • DEN Sutton 16% · Williams 16% · Jeudy 16%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Commanders vs Broncos
ResultWASDEN
Touchdowns12
Field goals11
Punts13
Turnovers21
Turnovers on downs20
Missed field goals21

DEN turnover edge: +1

  • The Broncos opened the scoring on their second possession, a 7-play, 38-yard drive that ended in a field goal.
  • The Broncos drained the clock with three second-half drives of four to five minutes.
All 17 possessions, drive by drive
Drive chart
TeamStartPlaysYardsTimeResult
WASQ1 15:009565:30Downs
DENQ1 9:309325:20Punt
WASQ1 4:1011565:28Missed FG
DENQ2 13:427383:15Field goal
WASQ2 10:2710415:02Field goal
DENQ2 5:257754:14Touchdown
WASQ2 1:117291:11Interception
DENQ3 15:006194:01Punt
WASQ3 10:593-52:02Punt
DENQ3 8:57351:55Punt
WASQ3 7:0210946:24Touchdown
DENQ3 0:3810404:41Missed FG
WASQ4 10:576282:02Missed FG
DENQ4 8:558634:28Touchdown
WASQ4 4:2711553:50Interception
DENQ4 0:37310:16Fumble
WASQ4 0:214-60:21Downs
About these numbers

Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Commanders vs Broncos Head-to-Head

The Commanders and Broncos first met in 1970 and have played 17 times since.

All-time series
9–8Broncos lead, 17 meetings since 1970
Postseason
1–0Commanders won in 1987
Largest Commanders win
42–101987
Largest Broncos win
45–212013

Since 2021

2–1 Broncos lead

3 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. B = Broncos win, C = Commanders win, outlined = this game.

Recent Meetings

Season to Date (Through Week 18)

The 2021 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Commanders vs Broncos
CommandersStatBroncos
7-10Record7-10
19.7Points per game19.7
323.6Yards per game330.5
5.1Yards per play5.4
25.5Points allowed per game18.9
359.3Yards allowed per game326.1

Commanders vs Broncos Odds and Results

How this game finished against the betting lines.

Spread
DEN −4Broncos covered by 3
Total
45Under: 27 points scored (by 18)

Expected vs Actual Scoring

Implied team totals against the actual score
TeamImpliedActualDifference
Broncos24.517−7.5
Commanders20.510−10.5

Both offenses finished under the market's expectation, which matches the low fantasy output in the Fantasy tab.

Betting Trends

Each team's 2021 season through this game. Over/under is overs first.

Washington Commanders

Against the spread
1–7
Over/under
4–4
ATS as favorite
1–2
ATS as underdog
0–5
ATS on the road
1–3

Denver Broncos

Against the spread
4–4
Over/under
2–6
ATS as favorite
4–3
ATS as underdog
0–1
ATS at home
2–2

Lines: ESPN's consensus, captured at kickoff. Individual sportsbooks varied.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Betting availability depends on your state.

Commanders and Broncos in Fantasy

The two teams don't meet again this season. If you roster a Commander or a Bronco, these answer the week-to-week question.

Keep Exploring

2021 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Commanders vs Broncos Game FAQ

Who won the 2021 Commanders vs Broncos Week 8 game?

The Denver Broncos beat the Washington Commanders 17–10 in Week 8 of the 2021 season. The game was played at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, CO, on October 31, 2021. See the Broncos' 2021 schedule.

What was the final score of Commanders vs Broncos?

The final score was Broncos 17, Commanders 10. The Broncos led 10–3 at halftime, and the second half went Commanders 7, Broncos 7.

What happened in the Commanders vs Broncos game?

Denver led 10–3 at halftime to win 17–10. Washington outgained the Broncos 342–273, but the Broncos averaged 5.4 yards per play. Melvin Gordon led all players with 3 catches for 15 yards and a touchdown, plus 10 carries for 47 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Commanders committed 2 turnovers, the Broncos 1.

What was the game-winning score in Commanders vs Broncos?

Melvin Gordon III's 7-yard touchdown run with 4:27 left in the fourth quarter gave the Broncos a 17–10 lead they never gave up. It was the final score of the game.

Who scored the most fantasy points in Commanders vs Broncos?

Melvin Gordon led the game with 18.2 PPR fantasy points, the RB11 of Week 8, on 3 catches for 15 yards and a touchdown, plus 10 carries for 47 rushing yards and a touchdown. J.D. McKissic was next with 17.3 (RB15).

Who led Commanders vs Broncos in passing, rushing and receiving?

Taylor Heinicke (WAS) led all passers with 24 of 39 for 270 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions. Melvin Gordon (DEN) led in rushing with 10 carries for 47 yards and a touchdown. J.D. McKissic (WAS) led in receiving with 8 catches for 83 yards.

How many fantasy points did Melvin Gordon score against the Commanders?

Melvin Gordon scored 18.2 points in PPR leagues, 16.7 in half-PPR and 15.2 in standard scoring against the Commanders in Week 8 of the 2021 season, on 3 catches for 15 yards and a touchdown, plus 10 carries for 47 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Who outperformed and underperformed expected fantasy points in Commanders vs Broncos?

Melvin Gordon III outperformed his expected fantasy points the most, scoring 19.2 PPR points on 11.5 xFP (+7.7). Terry McLaurin fell furthest short, with 6.5 points on 12.4 xFP (−5.9). A gap either way reflects efficiency and touchdowns in one game; it is not a forecast. For matchups ahead, see fantasy points allowed by position.

How did the Broncos beat the Commanders?

The Broncos beat the Commanders 17–10 because they averaged 5.4 yards per play to 5.0 and won the turnover battle 2–1. Melvin Gordon III's 7-yard touchdown run put them ahead for good.

What is the all-time Commanders vs Broncos record?

The Broncos lead the all-time series 9–8 across 17 meetings since 1970, including a 0–1 record in the postseason.

Have the Commanders and Broncos played in the Super Bowl?

Yes, once: the Commanders won Super Bowl XXII 42–10 over the Broncos after the 1987 season.

When did the Commanders and Broncos last play before this game?

Before Week 8 of 2021, they last met in the 2017 season on December 24, 2017, when the Commanders beat the Broncos 27–11.

What was the closing spread for Commanders vs Broncos?

The consensus closing spread at kickoff was Broncos −4, making the Denver Broncos 4-point favorites, with a closing total of 45. That implied about 24.5 points for the Broncos and 20.5 for the Commanders.

Did Commanders vs Broncos go over or under the total?

The game went under. The consensus closing total was 45, and the teams combined for 27 points, 18 under the number.

Who covered the spread in Commanders vs Broncos?

The Broncos covered by 3 against the closing line of Broncos −4. The final margin was 7 points.