What is the story about?
After
an initial sloppy start, the Indianapolis Colts (2-2) righted the trolleybus offensively, took advantage of a rookie 3rd-string quarterback defensively, and bested the Washington Commanders (1-3), 30-13, in London this past Sunday—now back to playing .500 football for the first time this season.
We’ll look at some of the studs, duds, and maybe a little in between regarding their latest international win:
Horsepower
- RB Jonathan Taylor: The Colts star workhorse continues to shine overseas, recording 95 total rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns on 20 carries (4.8 ypc. avg.). With starting quarterback Daniel Jones clearly shaky play early on (which we’ll get to here in a bit), the Colts went “back to the basics,” and that was riding the efficient Taylor in this one (with some rookie rusher Seth McGowan sprinkled in as a change-of-pace back). Taylor is now the all-time international leading rusher (6 touchdowns) and rushing yards leader (408) in league history, and whether it was “drinking tea” or “waving like the queen” following his two touchdowns runs on the day, he celebrated in London style.
- DT DeForest Buckner: With the Colts offense spiraling early on (with a fumble lost, three straight punts, and an interception on their first five offensive drives), Buckner, to me, almost single-handedly kept the Colts in this football game defensively with his hustle, impact, and leadership. Whether it was stopping the run, creating pass pressure, or just all-out effort, Buckner played like a man on a mission, and was a huge reason why the Indianapolis defense held the Commanders to just two field goals on their first two offensive drives, despite being gifted a short field on their first possession because of the weird Jones’ fumble. Buckner deserves to be a Colts’ Ring of Honor player when it’s all said-and-done, and his collective impact on Sunday is a big reason why. That was a performance to remember, one day looking back at his standout career here in Indianapolis. While we’re on the position, I’d also like to give backup defensive tackle Ade Adebawore an honorable mention, who made his pass rushing presence felt in limited action again, with 0.5 sacks and 2 QB hits. He continues to be a menace as a subpackage interior pass rusher.
- LB Jaylon Carlies: The Colts much maligned starting linebacker unit has taken its fair share of lumps and growing criticism to begin the 2026 campaign, but arguably had their best performance of the season on Sunday. In particular, Carlies showcased his best, and elite athleticism, by somehow batting an Athan Kaliakmanis pass to himself for the interception early in the 3rd quarter.
- CB Charvarius Ward: The Colts secondary had its fair share of coverage gaffes, by allowing a handful of explosive big plays to the rookie Kaliakmanis, but wearing the guardians cap again, Ward arguably had his best game of the season in coverage. Specifically, he allowed just two receptions for 13 total receiving yards on 7 targets in coverage (28.6 catch rate) with 3 pass breakups.
- PK Spencer Shrader: Regarding what was a narrowly won offseason competition, the Colts absolutely made the right call by naming Shrader the victor, who was a perfect 3 for 3 from field goal range again including makes from 48 yards, 52 yards, and 44 yards. That’ll certainly play on special teams!
Horseplay
- QB Daniel Jones: For the first 1.5 quarters in this one, Jones looked like how a lot of Colts fans may have thought he’d look coming off last year’s season-ending torn Achilles in Week 14 with no preseason reps. He has to take better care of the football on the weird sack fumble, and the interception off his back-foot under duress to Commanders veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas is just a play that can’t happen at this level. Jones has to either feel the pressure earlier or “eat the sack,” rather than throw a gifted lollipop in coverage.Jones looked closer to the failed franchise quarterback hopeful who was too turnover prone with the New York Giants than the breakout quarterback we surprisingly saw during the first half of last season in his Indianapolis debut. No idea if the Colts coaching staff was ever seriously contemplating an in-game change, but one more offensive drive that ended in another Jones brutal turnover, and as fans, we were realistically getting close to advocating for seeing Anthony Richardson again—if we weren’t already. Jones absolutely cannot play that way again in Pittsburgh next week, which has been a historical franchise house of horrors.
- CB Sauce Gardner: Whether you want to argue that Gardner has not lived up to his billing so far in Indianapolis, after the Colts surprisingly surrendered two first round picks, it’s fair game—although Gardner himself did not make that trade. In London, he clearly played his worst game as a member of the Colts. He allowed 4 receptions for 117 total receiving yards and a touchdown reception on his 5 pass coverage targets, although I will also contend that his safety help (i.e., rookie A.J. Haulcy) and the Indy pass pressure didn’t do him favors either by leaving him on a coverage island for so long.Even with his lack of interceptions, the Colts need Gardner to be a shutdown #1 cornerback, and on Sunday, he was far from it, as he was openly picked on by Kaliakmanis on two explosive passing plays deep.
