The NFL International Series continues this week with the Washington Commanders 'hosting’ the Indianapolis Colts.
It all began 21 years ago, on October 2, 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals met the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City. Several NFL preseason games had been played outside the United States, but this was the first time a regular-season game was played outside the US.
The Commanders are the ‘home' team this weekend in London, and the Colts are the visiting team. The way this is determined is the NFC this season gets nine home games, while last year in 2025, the AFC teams were scheduled a ninth home game and eight road games.
All told, 56 NFL International games have been played, with the vast majority (39) in London. This brings us to this
year’s contest in London between the Colts and the Commanders. The home team, the Commanders, are reportedly wearing white pants with burgundy jerseys. Meanwhile, the Colts will wear a road white jersey with white pants.
🇬🇧 Le premier London Game de la saison oppose Indianapolis à Washington dans le @SpursStadium !
— NFL France (@NFLFrance) October 2, 2026
Après leur belle victoire face aux champions en titre, les @Commanders peuvent-ils enchaîner face aux @Colts ?
Une affiche à suivre en direct sur @francetvsport ! pic.twitter.com/lZswaEwrfT
Washington has played in only two of these 56 International games so far. The Colts have played in three international games, winning two and losing one. The Commanders, however, are actually winless. Get this: last season, the Commanders lost to the Miami Dolphins in overtime, 16-13, when the two teams battled in Madrid, Spain.
The last time the @Bengals were in 🇬🇧
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) October 24, 2019
They took part in the first (and only) tied London Game!
@Redskins 27-27 @Bengals
What a game! Who was there?👇#NFLUK pic.twitter.com/vLS041uZgF
The Commanders’ other experience overseas was in London during the 2016 season, when they were still the Washington Redskins. The Redskins and Bengals played a tight game, and Washington kicker Dustin Hopkins sent it into overtime with a field goal that tied it 27-27. In overtime, Washington took the lead when Hopkins lined up for a 34-yard field goal attempt. But he surprisingly missed, and the game finished tied.
Technically, Washington has played in three games outside of the United States; in 2013, it faced the Buffalo Bills in Toronto in what was called the ‘Bills Toronto Series.’ The then-Redskins also lost that game. So Sunday’s game will be the Commanders’ fourth game outside the United States, and they'll be looking for their first win.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders' history in NFL's International Series
