Pro Ducks Mariota, Nix lock up in 27-26 overtime quarterback battle

Forced into the starting role after Jayden Daniels had been lost for the season with a knee injury, Marcus Mariota gave it all he had.

The NBC NFL Sunday night game from Denver came down to a final play in overtime. With the score 27-26 the Commanders went for two and a chance to win. Mariota dropped back, getting pressure from linebacker Nik Bonitto, who came in unblocked from the left edge.

Oregon's only Heisman winner tried to loft a pass to former Stanford Cardinal Zach Ertz, open in the left flat for a potential score. Bonitto leapt up and batted it away.

Alone on the field, Mariota took off his helmet and sunk to his knees. Bo Nix found him for a congratulatory hug and words of consolation.

The 11th-year pro from Hawaii had thrown 50 passes and completed 28 for 294 yards and two touchdowns. He led Washington in rushing, 10 carries for 55 yards.

In the last three minutes of the fourth quarter he took his team on a 18-play, 71-yard field goal drive to tie the game at 20-20. In overtime he threaded a pass to Terry McLaurin for his second touchdown.

For Nix and the 10-2 Broncos, it was their ninth win in a row. He completed 29-45 for 321 yards and a touchdown, an 11-yard pass to Courtland Sutton at the end of the first half. They lead the AFC West by two games over Justin Herbert and the Chargers, who beat the Raiders, 32-14 behind Herbert's 15-20 passing for 151 yards and two TDs.

Nix said, "It was an honor to play against a guy like that, that I looked up to."

More and more NFL games are turning into Oregon showcases and Duck reunions. At the same time, Dan Lanning has created a welcoming atmosphere for former players within the program, something that enhances recruiting.