The Washington Commanders fell to 1-3 after Sunday’s 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. It was another frustrating day for the Commanders on the injury front, namely with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota going down in the first quarter with a knee injury.
Seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis replaced Mariota and had his moments — good and bad. Given his lack of practice work and the difficult situation he was thrown into, he played reasonably well. He didn't have a lot of help. Outside of Austin Ekeler's four carries, the running game offered nothing. Pass protection and playcalling were also issues for the Commanders at times.
And then there was the officiating. You didn’t have to be a Washington fan
on Sunday to see how impactful the officiating was. The Commanders were called for 10 penalties for 84 yards, while the Colts were called for one penalty for five yards. That long Indianapolis penalty came in the fourth quarter with the Colts up by two scores. Several of the accepted penalties against Washington were egregiously bad.
Speaking of that officiating, social media sounded off on NFL officials after another poorly officiated game.
NFL field Judge - Anthony Fleming looking right at this infraction @NFLOfficiating https://t.co/7eY5Bxx0UZ pic.twitter.com/89FZPMZKBr
— Tiller56 (Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) October 4, 2026
Choke hold against Burks to end the game too pic.twitter.com/sjioPm3fXH
— London Fletcher Stan (@PFF_Commanders) October 4, 2026
camera work about as bad as the reffing
— Steak/Sauna/Parlay/Draft King (@EBJunkies) October 4, 2026
Tone gets the game tying TD and the refs call an illegal shift when no one was moving on the line ….this is how the game went
— Black Koffee (@KonartistNupe) October 4, 2026
Not pass interference pic.twitter.com/9kw783pE7S
— Josh Harris SZN (@matt_umd) October 4, 2026
This isn’t football. https://t.co/VGe0wzgHSK pic.twitter.com/YCWpxrOPuK
— Reid🏝 (@reidwinterfb) October 4, 2026
THERES NO SUCH THING AS AN ILLEGAL SHIFT
— Eric Nathan (@BarstoolNate) October 4, 2026
This is hard to watch😤
— Rick Doc Walker (@RickDocWalker) October 4, 2026
So, Colts defensive linemen are allowed to body slam opponents. Got it.
— Ken Johannesen (@BurgundyBurner) October 4, 2026
You arnt allowed to call a fair catch and advance the ball.
— ARP Reez (@Reez_Delaghetto) October 4, 2026
Where is the flag????
Unbelievable pic.twitter.com/t2XnmY1rnP
— Cedonia Ave. (@KMBmoreX) October 4, 2026
I am just not certain with the officiating today. Some of this truly needs to be researched further.
— CWallSports (@cwallse) October 4, 2026
Has an @NFL game been this bad by @NFLOfficiating ? Like this cannot be real life. The Colts have 1 penalty? We have a million phantom flags? This is right in our faces like we are stupid.
— Eddie The Chef (@Eddie11210) October 4, 2026
It’s been 9years since an NFL game had a 10-1 penalty disparity pic.twitter.com/Xh4NmsdURk
— Chuck Sapienza (@chucksapienza) October 4, 2026
Some of the most baffling officiating I’ve ever seen. Weak calls on Washington all day, not a single penalty on Indy. Unreal.
— Jackson Didlake (@diidlake) October 4, 2026
This officiating crew in Commanders/Colts should never ref another NFL game. @NFLOfficiating send these idiots to the PSAC
— Tiller56 (Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) October 4, 2026
The refs are absolutely awful today
— Jordan Asri (@wshingtontoday) October 4, 2026
Absolutely awful. I’ve never seen anything like this before.@nfl we have our third string quarterback in the game, the Colts don’t need anymore help lol
Most rigged game I’ve ever watched
— brady (@burgermanders) October 4, 2026
Penalties are 9 to 0 against the Commanders.
— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) October 4, 2026
80 yards to 0 yards in penalties.
This ref crew need to be investigated!
— Domo (@Domo8186) October 4, 2026
With under 10 minutes remaining in the game Indy gets their first penalty.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 4, 2026
Worst one sided refereeing I have ever seen in the @NFL . @NFLOfficiating
— CMDR Andy Fireblade Muza (@andymuza) October 4, 2026
Flag was down and the refs picked it up. LOUD boos for these refs here in London pic.twitter.com/o3UwyROLJK
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 4, 2026
Mood. pic.twitter.com/UmMQ8peqfl
— Coach Breeze (@CoachBreeze_) October 4, 2026
The commanders with all the penalties, something stinks that can’t be right
— Sam (@RPh_HTTR) October 4, 2026
Offensive pass interference on Diggs. Gotta be kidding me
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 4, 2026
Aye man fire your entire crew from that commanders game @NFLOfficiating
— Mr. Unlimited (@MiggFAM) October 4, 2026
THAT IS INTENTIONAL GROUNDING. He was under duress, there wasnt a soul 20 yards from the pass and he was in the tackle box.
— Don Quivera Returns (@CWellion) October 4, 2026
So the Colts don’t commit any penalties, although I have seen some illegal contact & holdings that weren’t called. But 8 penalties to 0 sounds egregious
— Dre (@DCSportsDre) October 4, 2026
Colts false start on that big run. No call
— Bucket (@Bucket_WFTFan) October 4, 2026
It’s comical at this point
As weak as some of the stuff that has been called against the Commanders has been in this game, it’s impossible the Colts have played so clean they should have zero penalties.
— David Harrison (@DHarrison82) October 4, 2026
@NFLOfficiating YALL ASS. AGAIN.
— Coach Breeze (@CoachBreeze_) October 4, 2026
The refs are horrible today. Dan Quinn was livid after that non-call.
— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) October 4, 2026
Horrible no call it seems down the sideline. #Commanders unable to climb every mountain that they have to
— Chris Russell AKA the 🐓🐓! (@Russellmania621) October 4, 2026
Ref analyst has said on 2 different occasions that no calls should’ve went Washington’s way
— Jamual (@LetMualTellit) October 4, 2026
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders fans, NFL world react to officiating in Week 4 loss to Colts
