NFL London Recap: Colts 30, Commanders 13
The Indianapolis Colts pulled away in the second half to beat the Washington Commanders 30-13 on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in the first NFL game played in Europe this season.
Running back Jonathan Taylor scored twice, quarterback Daniel Jones ran in another touchdown and the Colts' defense kept a depleted Washington offense in check. The win was Indianapolis' second straight and evened its record at 2-2. Washington fell to 1-3.
Washington Lost Another Quarterback
The Commanders arrived in London already shorthanded. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels is out with a dislocated left elbow, and top wide receiver Terry McLaurin was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
That put veteran backup Marcus Mariota under center, and things started well. Washington opened the game with two field goals from rookie kicker Drew Stevens, from 31 and 29 yards, for a 6-0 lead.
Then the Commanders lost Mariota, too. He was sacked by Colts defenders Laiatu Latu and Adetomiwa Adebawore on Washington's second drive, with Latu landing on his right knee. Mariota left the game and was ruled out after halftime.
That left the offense to Athan Kaliakmanis, a seventh-round rookie who began the day as Washington's third-string quarterback.
A Penalty Swung the First Half
Washington's defense kept the game close early, helped by two first-half turnovers from Jones, an interception and a lost fumble.
The turning point came late in the second quarter. The Commanders appeared to get a stop on third-and-14, but cornerback Amik Robertson was flagged for a penalty that Commanders Wire called "absolutely horrible", giving Indianapolis a fresh set of downs.
The Colts made Washington pay. Taylor finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, putting Indianapolis ahead 7-6 with 3:23 left in the half. He celebrated by pretending to sip a cup of tea, a nod to the London crowd.
Kicker Spencer Shrader then hit a 48-yard field goal as time expired in the half, sending the Colts to the locker room up 10-6.
Kaliakmanis' First TD Wasn't Enough
Taylor added his second 5-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 17-6.
Kaliakmanis answered with the best moment of his young career. He found receiver Treylon Burks for a 47-yard touchdown, his first in the NFL, cutting the deficit to 17-13 with 10:39 left in the third quarter.
Washington never got closer. Shrader drilled a 52-yard field goal to stretch the lead, and Jones made up for his early mistakes with a 4-yard touchdown run on a read-option play early in the fourth quarter. A final Shrader field goal closed out the 30-13 final.
The Colts were efficient when it mattered most, going 3-for-3 on trips inside the red zone, according to FOX59. Washington reached the red zone twice and came away with only field goals.
By the Numbers
Taylor carried the Colts' offense, finishing with 95 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Jones struggled as a passer, going 19 of 34 for 143 yards with no touchdown passes.
Kaliakmanis completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Washington's defense held Indianapolis to 257 total yards, but injuries, penalties and a stalled red-zone offense proved too much to overcome.
A Full House in North London
An announced crowd of 60,907 filled Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the 13th NFL game played at the venue. Attendance at the stadium, home to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, has never dipped below 60,000 for an NFL game.
Taylor's tea-drinking celebration gave British fans one of the day's most memorable moments.
What's Next
The Colts return home to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5, while the Commanders head home and wait for updates on Mariota's knee, with their quarterback depth now stretched to the limit.
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