Zach Ertz replaces Shannon Sharpe on the all-time SNF TD list

In an exciting Sunday Night Football game, The Washington Commanders fell 27-26 in overtime to the Denver Broncos at Northwest Stadium in Week 13, leaving them with a 3-9 record on the season. Even in defeat, the veteran tight end Zach Ertz made NFL history, passing Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe for fifth place the all-time secret end of receiving the list.

Ertz entered the game with 814 career catches and needed just two to pass Sharpe’s mark. The 35-year-old wasted no time and cashed in with three receptions in the first quarter alone. By the end of the night, Ertz finished with 10 catches on 12 targets for 106 yards, his first 100-yard game of the 2025 season and the 12th of his career with double-digit receptions. His performance placed him behind only Tony Gonzalez (1,325), Jason Witten (1,228), Travis Kelce (1,063) and Antonio Gates (995) among all-time teams.

Ertz also had a 21-yard catch, the second-longest reception for Washington, and converted a key fourth down with less than a minute left. Although he missed a potential game-tying goal in overtime, it was his best performance of the season so far.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota kept Washington in contention with a series of clutch plays. The veteran completed 28 of 50 passes for 294 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while also leading the team in rushing with 55 yards on 10 catches. Mariota came up with key plays in both the fourth quarter and overtime, overcoming penalties and third-and-long situations to tie the game at 20 in overtime.

The Commander’s wide receivers were the center of attention, so every catch was important. Terry McLaurin returned from injury and caught seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, although another score was nullified by a penalty. Rookie Treylon Burks contributed a one-handed touchdown in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, Washington held Denver to just 69 yards on 3 carries and limited the Broncos to just two sacks, an impressive feat against a team that entered the game with a season-high 49 sacks. Linebacker Bobby Wagner led the Commanders with eight tackles, adding one interception and a pass deflection.

While Washington’s losing streak was seven, Ertz’s milestone was a silver lining. In his second season with the Commanders, after nine years with the Philadelphia Eagles, three with the Arizona Cardinals and one with the Detroit Lions, he remains one of the most reliable pass catchers.

In the end, it was linebacker Nick Bonitto who won Denver. The Broncos’ defense gave up a late touchdown in overtime, but Washington got two before tying the game. Bonito blocked Mariota’s pass to Jeremy McNichols, giving Denver a 27-26 win.

Next week, the Commanders will travel to face the Minnesota Vikings, hoping to build on individual performances like Ertsov’s as they look for their first win since early October.