LONDON - Jonathan Taylor turned a sluggish start into a runaway finish, carrying the Colts to a 30-13 win over the Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Taylor ran for 95 yards and scored twice, and with those two touchdowns he pushed his career international total to six, the most in NFL history. Indianapolis didn’t get much going through the air with Daniel Jones and the passing game, but Taylor kept the offense on schedule and helped the Colts secure a second straight win overall and a third straight victory in international games.
The early stages were rough for Indianapolis. Jones lost a fumble, and the Colts went three drives without a first down. Washington took advantage just enough to build a 6-0 lead with a pair of field goals by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter brought more trouble for Jones, who threw an ill-advised pass that Rasul Douglas intercepted. Even so, the Commanders couldn’t fully separate, with third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis - in for the injured Marcus Mariota - struggling against pressure from the Colts defense.
That opened the door for Indianapolis to settle in. The Colts put together a nine-play, 46-yard march and finished it with Taylor’s 5-yard touchdown run. Then, just before halftime, Spencer Shrader added a 48-yard field goal to send Indianapolis into the locker room up 10-6.
The Colts defense delivered another key swing to start the third quarter. Jaylon Carlies intercepted Kaliakmanis for Indianapolis’ first takeaway since Week 1, and four plays later Taylor powered in from 5 yards out for his second touchdown of the day.
Washington answered right back. Kaliakmanis connected with Treylon Burks for a 47-yard touchdown down the sideline, trimming the gap, and Shrader responded with a 52-yard field goal to make it 20-13 after three quarters.
From there, Indianapolis closed the door. The Colts finished a nine-play, 52-yard drive with a 4-yard Daniel Jones scramble into the end zone early in the fourth quarter. After Washington turned the ball over on downs, Shrader capped the scoring with a 44-yard field goal to make it 30-13.
The Colts are 2-2 and head to Pittsburgh next week to face the Steelers. The Commanders, now 1-3, return home to meet the Giants.
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For the Colts, any extra spotlight in London only adds to the intrigue around Owens new home. He has been in the league long enough to know how quickly a fresh setting can change the conversation, and Biles presence has only amplified the attention around his latest chapter. The bigger picture now is how much more of that international stage the Colts and Owens can keep turning into their own. [Read more 🡒]