Commanders Look to Build Momentum Against Indianapolis in London
By Brian Hradsky
The Washington Commanders will take their momentum across the Atlantic Ocean Sunday morning when they face the Indianapolis professional football team at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Washington enters the international matchup at 1-2 after earning its first victory of the season with a dramatic 33-31 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Indianapolis is also 1-2 after defeating the Houston Texans 19-17 last week. Both teams desperately need another victory to avoid falling further behind in their respective divisions.
Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 4, with NFL Network carrying the game nationally. It will be Washington’s second consecutive season playing internationally after the Commanders traveled to Spain in 2025.
Marcus Mariota Gets Another Start
The biggest question entering the week surrounded Jayden Daniels and his injured left elbow.
That question has now been answered.
Washington officially ruled Daniels out Friday. The Commanders’ franchise quarterback participated on a limited basis during the week and traveled with the team to England, but head coach Dan Quinn decided against putting him back on the field against Indianapolis.
Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow and will now miss his second consecutive game. Quinn remains optimistic that Daniels could return for Washington’s next game against the New York Giants.
That means the offense once again belongs to Marcus Mariota.
Mariota delivered exactly what Washington needed against Seattle. He threw three touchdown passes without an interception and posted a passer rating above 110.0, then helped seal the victory with a crucial read-option run. It marked his first game with at least three touchdown passes, no interceptions and a 110-plus passer rating since 2022.
Washington does not need Mariota to become Daniels. It needs him to protect the football, make efficient throws and continue using his legs when opportunities develop.
If he can repeat what he did against Seattle, Washington should have opportunities against Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Defense Offers Opportunities
The Indianapolis defense has struggled considerably through the first three weeks.
Indianapolis enters Sunday allowing 417.3 total yards per game, the worst mark in the NFL entering Week 4. That makes this an intriguing matchup for a Washington offense that finally found some rhythm against Seattle.
There is one significant concern for Washington.
Terry McLaurin is questionable after dealing with a hamstring injury. McLaurin was limited Friday after sustaining the injury during practice earlier in the week. His availability could have a major impact on Washington’s ability to attack Indianapolis through the air.
Indianapolis has been particularly vulnerable in the slot.
Nickel cornerback Justin Walley has allowed 13 receptions on 15 targets for 213 yards and two touchdowns from the slot. Opposing quarterbacks have produced a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeting him in those situations, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
That creates opportunities for Washington’s receiving corps.
Stefon Diggs has run a team-high 44 routes from the slot this season, while rookie Antonio Williams has also been productive there. Williams leads Washington with a plus-27.2 percent completion rate over expected when targeted and has generated plus-8.7 receiving EPA from the slot.
Mariota should have chances to attack that matchup.
Jonathan Taylor Against Washington’s Run Defense
Stopping Jonathan Taylor will likely be Washington’s biggest defensive priority.
Taylor has not dominated during the opening three weeks, averaging fewer than four yards per rushing attempt and failing to reach 100 rushing yards in any game. He finished with 68 yards and no touchdowns against Houston last week.
Washington’s run defense has quietly been one of the strongest units in football.
The Commanders have surrendered only 246 rushing yards through three games, third fewest in the NFL entering Week 4. Opponents are averaging just 3.8 yards per carry against Washington, while the Commanders lead the league with a 25 percent run-stuff rate.
Washington has also allowed only five runs of at least 10 yards.
That matchup could determine the direction of the game.
Taylor has already demonstrated what he can do overseas. Last season, he rushed for an international-game record 244 yards and three touchdowns during Indianapolis’ 31-25 overtime victory against Atlanta in Berlin. He finished that game with 286 yards from scrimmage.
Washington cannot allow Taylor to produce another performance like that.
If the Commanders contain him and force Indianapolis to consistently move the football through the air, their pass rush should have opportunities to influence the game.
Washington Secondary Faces a Test
Indianapolis should have opportunities of its own against Washington’s secondary.
The Commanders have struggled defending receivers through three weeks. Mike Sainristil has allowed five touchdown receptions and a 142.4 passer rating when targeted. Jeremy Reaves and Quan Martin have also allowed opposing quarterbacks to produce efficiently when throwing in their direction.
Josh Downs could become especially important for Indianapolis.
Downs has averaged 2.4 yards per route during Weeks 2 and 3 and has received a target on 32.8 percent of his routes over that stretch. Injuries within the Indianapolis receiving corps have increased his importance to the offense.
Keenan Allen is another player Washington must account for if healthy. Allen enters the game needing two receptions to tie former Indianapolis receiver Reggie Wayne for 11th place in NFL history with 1,070 career catches.
Washington’s secondary cannot give Indianapolis easy completions underneath and allow those plays to develop into long drives.
Washington Gets Defensive Help Back
The Commanders received some encouraging injury news on defense.
Linebacker Frankie Luvu and tight end Chig Okonkwo are expected to return after missing two games. Their availability provides Washington with reinforcements as the team tries to build on its first victory.
Washington will still be without several players.
Guard Sam Cosmi and safety Nick Cross have been ruled out. Running back Rachaad White is also out with a shoulder injury, while safety Percy Butler entered the weekend listed as questionable.
Indianapolis, meanwhile, did not rule out any players on its final injury report Friday, giving the Colts considerably better overall health entering the international matchup.
Sonny Styles Coming Off Breakout Performance
One Washington defender worth watching closely is rookie linebacker Sonny Styles.
Styles earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors following Washington’s victory over Seattle. He finished with five tackles, two passes defensed and an interception.
He became Washington’s first rookie linebacker to earn the award since Brian Orakpo in 2009.
Styles’ athleticism could become especially useful against Taylor and Indianapolis’ short passing game. If Washington continues receiving immediate contributions from its young defenders, the unit could develop into one of the team’s strengths as the season progresses.
Protect the Football
Turnovers could become particularly important Sunday.
Indianapolis has gone 30 consecutive games without committing a red-zone turnover, the longest active streak in the NFL entering the weekend. The Colts have also committed only 15 penalties this season, tied for the fewest in the league.
Washington cannot afford to give Indianapolis extra possessions.
Mariota avoided interceptions against Seattle, and another clean performance would significantly improve Washington’s chances.
The Commanders also need to avoid penalties that extend Indianapolis drives or erase productive offensive plays. International games can sometimes produce unusual circumstances because of travel and schedule changes, making discipline even more important.
Both Teams Searching for 2-2
This matchup carries more importance than the typical early-season nonconference game.
Both teams enter London at 1-2.
Indianapolis opened against Baltimore, Kansas City and Houston, taking Kansas City to overtime before finally earning its first victory against the Texans. Washington lost its first two games before responding with the 33-31 victory against Seattle.
The Commanders became the first 0-2 team since the 1980 Cincinnati Bengals to defeat the defending Super Bowl champion during Week 3.
Now Washington needs to prove that performance was more than a one-week response.
Returning from London at 2-2 would completely change the feeling surrounding Washington’s opening month.
Falling to 1-3 would put the Commanders back in a difficult position.
Keys to the Game
Washington’s first priority needs to be stopping Taylor. The Commanders have played excellent run defense through three games, and maintaining that level would force Indianapolis away from its most dangerous offensive weapon.
Mariota must also continue taking care of the football. He does not need to carry the offense if Washington can run effectively and create favorable passing situations.
The Commanders should aggressively attack Indianapolis’ vulnerable secondary, particularly from the slot. Diggs and Williams could have favorable opportunities, especially if McLaurin is limited or unavailable.
Finally, Washington’s secondary needs a better performance. Indianapolis has receiving weapons capable of exploiting the same weaknesses other opponents have found during the opening weeks.
MSB Take
Washington’s victory over Seattle changed the outlook heading into London.
Losing Daniels for another week is significant, but Mariota demonstrated that Washington can still run an effective offense without its starting quarterback. His experience becomes particularly valuable in an international game where preparation and composure can matter even more than usual.
The matchup also gives Washington opportunities. Indianapolis has allowed more than 400 yards per game through three weeks, and its secondary has several areas Mariota and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury can attack.
The biggest battle should come on the ground.
Washington’s run defense has been one of the NFL’s best through three games, while Taylor remains the player Indianapolis can lean on to control the game. If Washington contains Taylor, avoids turnovers and gives Mariota favorable situations, the Commanders should have opportunities to build on last week’s breakthrough.
This is an important early-season game for two 1-2 teams. Washington already prevented its season from slipping away with the win over Seattle. Now the Commanders have an opportunity to return from London at .500 and carry real momentum into the next portion of their schedule.
