The Commanders are battling to even their early-season record after the first four weeks, needing to do so in a home game across the Atlantic Ocean and while starting a backup quarterback.
That’s not quite as bad as it sounds, considering what has been a solid Commanders travel plan and the fact Marcus Mariota is the next man up.
Washington remains an underdog even against a fellow 1-2 Indianapolis Colts team that has also dealt with daunting schedule.
This is a winnable matchup, with some encouraging
signs from Washington’s previous victory that suggests the job can be done.
While Jayden Daniels wasn’t deemed ready after a Week 2 left elbow dislocation, the Commanders are getting some key players back. This new Terry McLaurin hamstring issue – Commanders reporter Ben Standig says not expected to play – could be a complication
Let’s discuss five Commanders players (not named Marcus Mariota) key to beating Indianapolis, getting back to .500 and building on the momentum from last week’s win over Seattle:
RB Bill Croskey-Merritt
The second-year pro is averaging 3.0 yards per carry, with a 40% rushing success rate thus far this season. That’s, well, not great. He had an explosive touchdown run taken off the board by penalty, but that doesn’t change his overall inefficiency to start the season despite him seemingly being a solid fit for David Blough’s system.
Rachaad White (shoulder) being unavailable will magnify his Week 4 impact, with Croskey-Merritt needing to be a featured offensive element. This could be a get-right game, with the Colts allowing 129.4 yards per game to this point.
He’s obviously got to secure the football first and then make moves with it, lest his carry counts drop once guys get healthy and new re-signing Austin Ekeler gets fully up to speed.
WR Stefon Diggs
McLaurin’s playing status will impact how vital veteran Stefon Diggs is to this game, but it could be huge with the team’s No. 1 pass catcher reportedly not expected to play. That puts Diggs officially into WR1 status if McLaurin in fact can’t go. The veteran has been a touchdown generator to this point, with three in as many games. His targets have been high though his yardage totals haven’t, though we could seen an uptick against a No. 30-ranked Colts pass defense that certainly doesn’t scare you. This game should be close, and Diggs has the clutch gene and an ability to get open on critical downs.
LB Frankie Luvu
The veteran interior linebacker started this season wearing the green dot as the on-field defensive signal caller. He was also named a team captain for the first time, but his leadership was lost to a groin injury during the first half of Week 1. He’s finally able to return at a crucial time, following Leo Chenal’s season-ending neck fracture.
The Commanders need Luvu to be a steadying presence in the middle and maintain their stellar run defense on the inside. His intensity can be infectious, and his partnership with rapidly improving rookie Sonny Styles should be an asset to Washington defensive coordinator Daronte Jones’ ability to call exotic pressures.
iOL Lucas Patrick
The Commanders signed the veteran center on Sept 16, and he has already found his way onto the field. He played center in Week 3, with Nick Allgretti shifted into Sam Cosmi’s place at right guard.
Patrick fared well despite his position’s cerebral, pre-snap requirements, playing better that Allegretti had there to this point. Cosmi didn’t make the trip to London for Sunday’s game, so we’ll likely see that same alignment against the Colts. It will be key in dealing with standout Indianapolis defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and in helping the run game go.
If Patrick continues to play well, the Commanders should leave him at center and admit the Allegretti experiment was a mistake.
DL Javon Kinlaw
Javon Kinlaw has been excellent so far this season despite being banged up over the first few weeks. While defensive line stats aren’t super revealing, trust us when we say Kinlaw has been active around the quarterback and integral to the run defense that has become Washington’s early defensive signature. Kinlaw and the defensive front must be on point against standout Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.
