The Indianapolis Colts beat the Washington Commanders 30-13 in London on Sunday, overcoming a slow start and a couple of turnovers from Daniel Jones to improve to 2-2. Taylor also made history in front of the 61,000 spectators at Tottenham. According to the Colts, his performance made him the NFL’s leading rusher in international games, adding to the 244 yards and three touchdowns he had against Atlanta in Berlin last season.
Another Injury Cost the Commanders Dearly
Washington, already suffering several injuries, lost another quarterback before halftime. Marcus Mariota, substituting for an injured Jayden Daniels, left the Commanders’ second drive with a knee injury. After the game, coach Dan Quinn said that Mariota appears to have suffered an MLC injury, raising questions about the player’s availability for the next couple of weeks.
The Colts capitalized on an interception early in the third quarter as Jaylon Carlies turned the turnover into points, scoring from five yards to secure a 17-6 lead. Taylor finished with 95 rushing yards on 20 carries. He celebrated his second touchdown with a tea-drinking gesture, referencing having tea at dinner before the match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis came in clutch and gave Washington a chance. The third-string quarterback was instrumental in maintaining the team’s momentum, performing a spectacular 47-yard touchdown pass to Treylon Burks that reduced Indianapolis’ lead to 17-13. Despite his valiant efforts, Washington could not keep up the pace and quickly fell behind.
Penalties Also Complicated the Match
Despite the lopsided result, things could have turned out differently for the Commanders, as their discipline became their downfall. Washington was flagged 10 times for 84 yards, compared to one five-yard penalty by Indianapolis. The Commanders were flagged eight times during their last game against Seattle, for a total of 18 penalties in their last two games. While several calls were questioned, the number of penalties left Washington on the back foot.
The Commanders also fumbled several opportunities in the first quarter. They reached the Colts’ red zone twice but settled for field goals in both cases. On Indianapolis’ opening drive, Odafe Oweh pushed Colts tackle Bernhard Raimann into Jones, forcing a fumble. Mariota’s injury did not help, and the following turnovers sealed the deal.
The Colts now return home to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite this win, they need to polish their offense, which was inconsistent at times and could have buckled against a more organized opponent. As for the Commanders, they must focus on better defending Kaliakmanis, who often found himself throwing under pressure because of repeated protection breakdowns.