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The Indianapolis Colts won in London the first NFL game of the season played in the English capital, defeating the Washington Commanders 30-13 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The score reflects the final dominance, but not Indianapolis's laborious start, as they were slowed for a long time before taking control. Jonathan Taylor scored two rushing touchdowns, Daniel Jones added one on the ground, and Washington saw its game plan begin to unravel with Marcus Mariota's early exit.
A messy start, then the Colts' line kept pressing
The Commanders led 6-0, taking advantage of a start in which the Colts had not yet found their offensive rhythm.
Washington started better, at least on the scoreboard. The Commanders led 6-0, taking advantage of a start in which the Colts had not yet found their offensive rhythm. Indianapolis even reached halftime with only 10 points, two turnovers, and sometimes choppy production. This kind of London game can quickly become strange: shifted schedule, mixed crowd, neutral field, and energy that rises in waves rather than through a local surge.
The Colts eventually managed to impose their football. Taylor scored before halftime, then again after the break, giving Indianapolis a more comfortable lead. The running back did not merely pile up points; he reminded everyone why defenses must first survive his workload before hoping to catch their breath. Even without a constant fireworks display, his runs changed the pace of the game and forced Washington to chase the score.
Washington lost more than a quarterback
The hardest turning point for the Commanders came very early with Marcus Mariota's right knee injury. Already without Jayden Daniels, who was dealing with a left elbow injury, they had to put rookie Athan Kaliakmanis into a challenging situation: London, a defense growing in confidence, and a game in which every offensive drive needed to be clean.
Kaliakmanis completed a few long passes, proof that he did not simply close his eyes and wait for the afternoon to end. But Washington lacked continuity, and some positive plays were nullified or led nowhere afterward. When a team falls that quickly down its depth chart at the most exposed position, it can survive for a few minutes on adrenaline. Over four quarters, it becomes more complicated.
Taylor, a specialist in profitable trips
The tastiest detail from the Colts' perspective lies in Taylor's international dimension. With his two touchdowns, he further strengthened his reputation as a player comfortable outside the United States. The Colts also benefited from a Washington defense worn down by absences, penalties, and forced changes. The final score, 30-13, reflects that wear: Indianapolis scored in each of the final three quarters, while the Commanders gradually lost their ability to respond.
For the NFL, the afternoon checks the usual International Series boxes: full stadium, easy-to-follow matchup, recognizable stars, and images ready to travel. For the Colts, the essential point is more concrete. This victory brings the team back to .500 and provides a less nervous foundation for what comes next. Washington, meanwhile, heads home with a question more urgent than the result: how many quarterbacks can you lose before the season starts talking only about the injury list?