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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
The Colts left London with a clear victory, but not with a perfectly tidy game packed in their suitcase. Indianapolis beat Washington 30-13 on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, after a sloppy start and two turnovers by Daniel Jones. The difference was then made on the ground, around Jonathan Taylor, and by a defense capable of taking advantage of a Commanders offense still battered by injuries.
Washington starts strong, then loses its way
Odafe Oweh forced a fumble from Daniel Jones right from the start, Washington turned the gift into a field goal, then added three points to take a 6-0 lead.
The opening minutes nevertheless belonged to the Commanders. Odafe Oweh forced a fumble from Daniel Jones right from the start, Washington turned the gift into a field goal, then added three points to take a 6-0 lead. In a relocated game, with an unusual schedule and a stadium still finding its voice, Indianapolis looked like the team searching for its bearings.
The turning point came before halftime. The Colts stopped forcing things, put the ball back in Taylor's hands, then took the lead on a touchdown by the running back. Spencer Shrader added a 48-yard kick just before the break. Without putting on a fireworks display, Indianapolis had retaken control, 10-6, leaving Washington with too few offensive certainties.
Taylor changes the temperature of the game
Jonathan Taylor did not put together a gigantic performance in terms of volume, but it carried significant weight: 95 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. His second power run, after an interception by Jaylon Carlies on Athan Kaliakmanis, gave the Colts a 17-6 lead in the third quarter. From there, Indianapolis was able to dictate the tempo.
Taylor also added to his personal story outside the United States, becoming a reference point in international games for rushing yards and touchdowns. The London connection has its charm, but the essentials lie elsewhere: the Colts needed a stable foundation while Jones continued to juggle inaccuracies. They found it in their running game.
The Commanders finish with a third quarterback
Washington was already playing this game without Jayden Daniels, who was injured. Marcus Mariota left the game after the second drive with a knee injury, and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis had to take over. He produced one flash with a 47-yard touchdown pass to Treylon Burks, bringing the Commanders back to 17-13, but what followed was tougher.
Kaliakmanis also threw the interception that gave the Colts a short field. Washington moved in spurts without managing to sustain the momentum. The offensive situation is becoming very concrete: a 1-3 team, already battered, must now deal with the urgency of the standings and that of its injury room. Even the best London tea cannot cure that kind of headache.
Indianapolis breathes without thinking it has arrived
At 2-2, the Colts are back to an even record after two straight wins. It is not yet a declaration of power in the AFC, but it is an important restoration of order. The defense held Washington to 13 points, Shrader was reliable, and Jones added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the Commanders out of reach for good.
The next challenge will be to produce the same solidity without waiting to be shaken by the opening minutes. Indianapolis showed in London that it could win an imperfect game, which matters in October. For the season to gain more substance, they will now need to cut down on turnovers and give Taylor more consistent support through the air. The plan is simple to write, less simple to execute every Sunday.