A week after the Commanders pulled off the upset of the season, under leadership of backup QB Marcus Mariota, they were dealt another setback, when Mariota exited the London game with an injury in the first quarter.
Mariota’s trip to the medical tent left 2026 seventh round draft pick, Athan Kaliakmanis atop the QB depth chart. In first NFL appearance, the rookie from Rutgers flashed some impressive ability to stretch the field, but also made the mistakes one expects when a late-round rookie QB is thrust
into action.
The defense came out on fire, setting up the offense with good field position on the first two drives. But unlike the previous week, against the Colts, the offense was unable to convert the short fields to touchdowns, settling instead for field goals. After Mariota left the game, the Commanders’ next five drives ended as follows: punt, punt, punt, over on downs, punt, interception.
Compounding the absence of the franchise QB and his backup was the failure of the running game outside of the QB position. For the past two games, the Commanders have been held to 100 or fewer rushing yards, with significant contributions from the QBs. Without QB runs, the rushing totals are 71 yds and 49 yds.
Against the Colts, the running backs averaged just 2.7 yards per attempt on 18 carries. Overall, the Commanders’ rushing attack averaged a disturbingly low -0.267 EPA/att (you want the number to be positive), ranking 25th in the NFL.
If that were not bad enough, the run defense, which held the Seahawks to 32nd place in Week 3 at -0.564 EPA/attempt, cratered under the relentless assault from RBs Jonathan Taylor and Seth McGowan, allowing the Colts to rush for 0.281 EPA/att, the second highest figure in Week 4. With the rookie backup QB playing most of the game, and little to no help from the running backs, the Commanders ranked 30th in offensive efficiency in Week 4, while ranking closer to average than worst in the league in defensive efficiency:
As disappointing as the loss may have been to fans the team to ride the momentum boost from the previous week’s upset win, it was not all bad. OLB Odafe Oweh made the play of the game, with an unconventional strip sack on the opening drive, C Lucas Patrick was a bright spot on an otherwise underperforming OL, Dyami Brown stepped up as WR1, with others absent or underperforming, Rasul Douglas led the CBs in a bounce back performance, with Amik Robertson continuing to prove that he is the toughest player on defense on a per pound basis, and Daron Payne made some noise on the defensive interior.
With Jayden Daniels, Sam Cosmi and Nick Cross possibly returning to the roster, those performances might be something to build on against the Giants. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s see who played where, who stood out and who sat down in the Commanders’ 13-30 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Hotspur Stadium, London.
Technicalities: Stats were sourced from the official NFL gamebook via NFLGSIS, Pro Football Reference (PFR), Pro Football Focus (PFF) and ESPN’s total QBR. In cases where advanced stats are scored differently, I have chosen preferred providers (eg. QB pressures – PFF, yards before contact – PFR). Where differences in advanced stats result from judgment calls (eg. Coverage yards allowed, broken tackles) I have gone with a modified consensus approach. When there is fundamental disagreement between sources, the stats won’t be reported. Minor differences between sources that support the same conclusion are reported. If advanced stats are reported without attribution of source, it means there was consensus. As always, official NFL stats override conflicting data from other sources.
BIGGEST PLAYS OF THE GAME
These plays had the biggest impact on teams’ scoring potential within the respective drives, as quantified by Expected Points Added. EPA threshold = +/- 2.3
Biggest Plays for Commanders
Q3, 10:47, 1st and 10 at IND 47: Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete deep left to Treylon Burks for 47 yards, touchdown. EPA 4.54
Q1, 8:29, 3rd and 6 at IND 42: Marcus Mariota pass complete short left to Jacory Croskey-Merritt for 35 yards. EPA 3.78
Q3, 6:56, 1st and 10 at WAS 16: Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete deep right to Dyami Brown for 48 yards. EPA 3.32
Q4, 3:25, 4th and 2 at IND 40: Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete short right to Dyami Brown for 8 yards. EPA 2.86
Q4, 9:48, 4th and 3 at WAS 32: Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete short left intended for Austin Ekeler (defended by Akeem Davis-Gaither). Penalty on Sauce Gardner: Defensive Holding, 5 yards. EPA 2.64
Q1, 10:39, 1st and 10 at WAS 19: Marcus Mariota left end for 35 yards. EPA 2.37
Q2, 9:59, 3rd and 10 at WAS 44: Daniel Jones pass short right intended for Ashton Dulin is intercepted by Rasul Douglas at WAS-34 and returned for 3 yards. EPA -2.82
Q1, 14:50, 2nd and 10 at IND 32: Daniel Jones sacked by Odafe Oweh for 8 yards. Daniel Jones fumble forced by Odafe Oweh, recovered by Oweh at IND 21. EPA: -4.70
Biggest Plays for Colts
Q2, 10:35, 4th and 1 at IND 48: Seth McGowan left guard for 8 yards. EPA 2.84
Q2, 5:12, 3rd and 14 at WAS 30: Daniel Jones pass complete short right to Josh Downs for 5 yards. Penalty on Amik Robertson: Personal Foul / Defense, 12 yards (accepted). EPA 2.63
Q3, 13:28, 3rd and 6 at WAS 16: Daniel Jones pass complete short left to Laquon Treadwell for 11 yards. EPA 2.54
Q3, 14:17, 3rd and 17 at WAS 24: Athan Kaliakmanis pass short right intended for Antonio Williams is intercepted by Jaylon Carlies at WAS-27 and returned for 7 yards. EPA -3.09
OFFENSE
Marcus Mariota went down with an MCL injury on a sack during the Commanders’ second offensive drive. Prior to the injury, he completed 3/4 passes for 46 yds, and ran once for 35 yds. That long run made him the Commanders’ leading rusher in the game.
Mariota recorded a 20% passing success rate, a 112.5 passer rating, and a 88.3 total QBR.
With the two QBs ahead of him on the depth chart out with injury, Athan Kaliakmanis got his first game experience. It went about as well as expected for a seventh round rookie QB who didn’t practice with the first team through the week. Athan completed 15/33 attempts (45.5%, ADOT 14.1 yds) for 186 yds, with a long of 48 yds to Treylon Burks, 1 TD, 1 INT and 1 sack for 9 yds. On the ground, Athan ran 3 times for 16 yds (5.3 Y/A, long 9), making him the team’s third leading rusher.
Athan’s first NFL penalty was a 5 yd delay of game flag in the 4th quarter.
Athan finished the game with a 29.4% passing success rate, a 20.7 total QBR, which placed him ahead of Sam Darnold (20.4) and Daniel Jones (19.6) in Week 4. It can only go up from there.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt had 9 carries for 15 yds (1.7 Y/A) and 1 first down (22.2% success rate). According to PFF, 7 of Bill’s 9 carries were through the A-gaps, where there was little room to run, as indicated by his paltry average of 0.4 yards before contact/attempt.
Bill also caught 2/4 targets for 35 yds, with a long of 35 yds. That made him the team’s second most productive receiver at an impressive 2.69 Y/RR.
Making his return appearance with the Commanders, Austin Ekeler had 4 carries for 29 yds, for an impressive rushing average of 7.3 Y/A (75% success rate). 17 of his 29 yards came on runs through the A-gaps, and the remaining 12 on runs around the left and right ends. Ekeler averaged an impressive 4.8 YBC/att. He also caught 1/2 targets for 11 yds.
“Fatman” Kaytron Allen had 3 rushing attempts for 1 yd. Craig Reynolds had 2 carries for 4 yds.
Dyami Brown was the designated starter, despite getting the second fewest snaps of the five active WRs. Nonetheless, he led the Commanders in receiving yards, catching 3/4 targets for 65 yds and 2 first downs, with a long of 48 (75% success rate – 2nd on team). Not surprisingly, he was also the Commanders’ most productive receiver at an elite 2.95 Y/RR. Dyami also made 2/3 contested catches.
Dyami was penalized 5 yds for an illegal shift in the 3rd quarter.
Treylon Burks was second in receiving yards, thanks to a beautiful 47 yd TD reception on a bomb from the Greek Rifle. It was his only catch in three targets. Both of the non-catches were on contested targets. Nonetheless, Treylon was the third most productive receiver at a respectable 1.88 Y/RR.
Treylon collected his first penalty of the season, with a 5 yd false start flag in the 2nd quarter.
Stefon Diggs caught 5/9 targets (55.6%, ADOT 10 yds) for 35 yds. Stefon was 2/3 on contested catches, but was less productive than usual at a pedestrian 1.13 Y/RR and 22.2% success rate. Stefon was the recipient of a questionable offensive pass interference penalty for 9 yds in the 4th quarter.
Antonio Williams caught 3/8 targets (37.5%, ADOT 12.5 yds) for 21 yds, and was 1/2 on contested targets.
Chig Onkonkwo returned from injury and caught 2/4 passes for 5 yards (0% success rate). Sadly, he was the only TE to touch the ball.
John Bates recorded the team’s second highest PFF run blocking grade with a respectable 64.5. That’s about it from this group.
The OL was surprisingly not bad in pass protection, aside from a few lapses, two of which led to Marcus Mariota’s injury. However, it was quite possibly the unit’s worst collective run blocking performance in Dan Quinn’s tenure. Even the OL’s strongest remaining run blockers had poor performances this week.
LT Brandon Coleman allowed just 1 QB hit in 41 pressure opportunities, resulting in strong 2.4% pressure rate. His 38.3 run blocking grade was a significant departure from his 65.8 season average, and was the lowest single game grade of his career to date.
Coleman also caught a deflected pass to rob the Colts of an interception and tie Trent Scott’s 100% lifetime reception rate. His 100% receiving success rate led the Commanders in Week 4.
LG Chris Paul allowed 0 pressures in pass protection. On the other hand, his 34.9 run blocking grade was the second lowest on the team, with only WR Dyami Brown grading worse at 29.4. Chris also collected a 5 yd false start penalty in the 3rd quarter.
C Lucas Patrick was the bright spot of the OL in Week 4. He was also perfect in pass protection, with no pressures allowed, and his 73.0 run blocking grade was the highest on the team.
Matt Gulbin got the start RG this week and posted mediocre numbers (4.9% pressure rate, 55.8 run block grade), with 2 costly mistakes. The two pressures he allowed in pass protection included the sack on which Mariota was injured and a QB hit.
LT Josh Conerly allowed 1 QB hit and 1 hurry in pass protection, for a decent 4.9% pressure rate. His 44.6 run blocking grade was by far the lowest of the season (next lowest 62.2), and was his lowest grade since Week 3 of his rookie season.
DEFENSE
K’Lavon Chaisson recorded 4 tackle assists and 1 missed tackle. In the pass rush, he recorded 0.5 sack (shared with Tim Settle), 1 QB hit and 1 hurry. His 12.5% pressure rate is at the 50th percentile for edge defenders based on 2025 season stats. He contributed to 1 stop in run defense.
K’Lavon dropped into coverage 5 times (20% of pass plays). According to PFF, he was targeted twice for 2 receptions and 20 yds.
Odafe Oweh recorded 1 TFL and made a beautiful strip sack/fumble recovery for a turnover by pushing the Colts’ left tackle into QB Daniel Jones:
That play alone counts as 1 sack, 1 FF, and 1 FR. In addition to that, Oweh contributed 1 QB hit and 2 hurries in the pass rush. His 17.4% pressure rate led the Commanders, and is above the 90th percentile for edge defenders based on 2025 stats. Odafe dropped into coverage twice (8% of pass plays) without being targeted.
Dorance Armstrong recorded 1 QB hit and 1 hurry in the pass rush (12.5% pressure rate). He dropped into coverage twice (11.1%) and was targeted once for a 6 yd reception.
Joshua Josephs made 1 tackle assist. He dropped into coverage 3 times (50% of pass plays) and was targeted once for a 13 yd reception.
Daron Payne recorded 3 tackles and 1 assist, including 3 defensive stops. In the pass rush, he recorded 2 QB hits and 2 hurries. His 13.3% pressure rate was second highest on the DL, and is above the 90th percentile for iDL based on 2025 stats.
Javon Kinlaw recorded 3 tackles and 1 stop and batted down 2 passes.
Tim Settle recorded 2 tackle assists. In the pass rush, he recorded 0.5 sack and 1 QB hit, resulting in 12.5% pressure rate, above the 90th percentile for iDL.
Shy Tuttle recorded a single QB hurry (7.7% pressure rate). Charles Omenihu was injured early before recording any stats.
Sonny Styles was second on the team in combined tackles, notching 4 tackles and 4 assists. He made three defensive stops (all on running plays), which put him in a three-way tie with Daron Payne and Jeremy Reaves. PFF counted 1 missed tackle, while PFR saw 2.
PFF and PFR differed slightly, but both agreed he allowed little (PFF 3 tgt/1 rec, 2 yds, 0.08 Y/Cov Snp) to nothing (PFR 4 tgt/0 rec, 0 Y/Cov Snp) in coverage.
Frankie Luvu recorded 1 TFL and 4 assists, contributing to 2 stops on passing plays. He generated 2 QB hurries in 14 pass rush attempts (14.3% pressure rate).
The stats services rated him from outstanding (PFR: 5 tgt/3 rec, 9 yds, 0.39 Y/Cov Snp) to above average (PFF: 3 tgt/3 rec, 19 yds, 0.83 Y/Cov Snp) in coverage.
Kain Medrano registered 2 tackle assists, and contributed to 1 stop. There was no consensus on his coverage stats or whether he missed a tackle.
Through 4 games, 5’9”, 183 lb Amik Robertson leads the Commanders in solo tackles (19) and defensive stops (10), and is second in combined tackles (26).
Against the Colts, Robertson once again led the team in tackles (7 tkl, 2 assists), including 2 stops on passing plays.
Robertson recorded 1 PD. There was considerable disagreement regarding his coverage stats (PFF: 1.19 Y/Cov Snp; PFR: 2.00 Y/Cov Snp). Even the best figure was well below average in rate of yardage allowed.
Amik drew a 12 yard personal foul penalty in the 2nd quarter for beating up 6’6”, 256 lb TE Tyler Warren. It was the only penalty on the Commanders’ defense.
Rasul Douglas finally played to his 2025 form. He recorded 5 tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops, 1 INT and 1 PD.
Depending on what stat source you believe, his coverage performance was either excellent (PFR: 6 tgt/3 rec, 22 yds, 0.69 Y/Cov Snp) or nearly perfect (PFF: 4 tgt/2 rec, 2 yds, 0.06 Y/Cov Snp).
Fabian Moreau recorded 1 tackle for a stop on a pass play. While there was some disagreement on the details, he did not give much away in coverage (PFF: 2 tgt/2 rec, 15 yds, 0.71 Y/Cov Snp; PFR: 1 tgt/1 rec, 6 yds, 0.71 Y/Cov Snp).
Mike Sainristil only played 5 defensive snaps. He was targeted once in coverage and did not allow a reception. It was his best game of the season.
Jeremy Reaves made the third most tackles (4 tackles, 3 assists) on the team, and tied for first place with 3 defensive stops, all against the run.
PFF rated him as stingy in coverage (1 tgt/1 rec, 9 yds, (0.30 Y/Cov Snp); while PFR rated him as perfect (1 tgt, 0 rec, 0 Y/Cov Snp).
Quan Martin made 3 tackles and 2 assists. He allowed 1 reception in 33 coverage snaps for either 5 yds (PFF, 0.15 Y/Cov Snp) or 12 yds (PFR, 0.36 Y/Cov Snp). Either figure is very good for a FS.
Percy Butler made 1 tackle for a run stop. He was not targeted in 9 coverage snaps.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jaylin Lane returned 3 kickoffs for 87 yds (26.7 Y/A) and 2 punts for 17 yds, with 1 fair catch, before exiting the game with a broken ankle in the 3rd quarter.
Dyami Brown returned 3 kickoffs for 82 yds (27.3 Y/A)
Antonio Williams made 1 fair catch on his only snap as a punt returner.
Drew Stevens was 1/1 on extra points and 2/2 on field goals from 31 and 29 yds.
Tress Way punted 5 times for 189 yds with no returns (37.8 net Y/A).
Percy Butler and Dyami Brown led the coverage units with 1 tackle and 1 assist apiece.
Tyler Owens and Jeremy Reaves each contributed single tackles.
Kain Medrano drew 2 holding penalties for 20 total yds.
Tyler Owens drew a 10 penalty for an illegal block.
Percy Butler drew a 13 yd penalty for an illegal blindside block.
