The Colts left London with a 30-13 win over Washington, but the bigger story for Indianapolis was how a game that started messy quickly turned into a long, comfortable afternoon once the Commanders kept losing bodies. Washington was already without Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin, and when Marcus Mariota went down in the first quarter, the Colts spent the rest of the day dealing with third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis.
That setup made it hard to draw sweeping conclusions about the defense. Still, some Colts clearly made the most of the opportunity.
Seth McGowan kept carving out a bigger role as the season goes on. Indianapolis has been leaning more on him as Jonathan Taylor’s backup, and that showed again against Washington. McGowan only had four carries in the first half, but the touches came in meaningful spots as the Colts worked to give Taylor more rest.
DeForest Buckner was the kind of force who would have wrecked the game no matter who was under center for Washington. He was a problem from start to finish and looked every bit like a player operating at Pro Bowl level - maybe even All-Pro level. With Buckner set to hit free agency next offseason and having dealt with injuries over the last two years, he looked like someone making a strong case for a deserved extension.
Justin Walley also turned in one of his best outings yet. After two rough games to open the year, he’s been much steadier over the last two, and Week 4 may have been his best showing.
He was sharp in coverage, strong against the run, and even came away with a sack on a blitz. He’s starting to look like a real answer in place of Kenny Moore.
And then there was Jonathan Taylor, who finished the job the way Jonathan Taylor usually does. Washington had been better against the run than the pass coming in, but Taylor still wore them down.
He didn’t get much going early, then took over late with 20 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns. In the second half, he was at his best.
On the other side of the ledger, Darius Slayton’s situation remains odd. He was a healthy inactive for the second straight game, and that naturally raises questions about whether Indianapolis made the right call bringing him in after the Giants moved on from him.
The Colts can point to acclimation, but that explanation feels thin for a veteran receiver. With Alec Pierce and Keenan Allen both out, Slayton still stayed on the sideline.
Daniel Jones had a rough day that only got a little better after halftime. His first half was ugly, with two more turnovers and shaky ball security under pressure, and he was off-target on too many throws.
He finished 19 of 34 for 143 yards with a fumble and an interception, plus a touchdown run in the second half, but the damage was already done. Through four games, he now has seven turnovers, and that’s not close to good enough.
At his current pace, he doesn’t look like someone worthy of being brought back next year, and if the Colts move on, they would save $38 million next offseason.
Sauce Gardner also landed on the wrong side of the list after a shaky second half. Getting beaten on two deep throws by a third-string quarterback is the kind of thing that stands out fast, especially when those plays accounted for almost 100 yards.
He also drew a holding penalty in the fourth quarter that handed Washington a first down. Gardner is one of the league’s best at the position, so there’s no reason for long-term alarm, but this one was a rough stretch by his standards.
In Other News...
Colts Fans Got Dragged Into The Jason Kelce Backlash Too
Jason Kelces growing presence around the NFL has started to follow the Colts into their own broadcast footprint. During the teams game against Washington in London, Kelce debuted as a color commentator for NFL Networks International Games, adding another high-profile platform to a list that already includes a widely aired YouTube TV commercial and a weekly podcast with his brother Travis.
The reaction from viewers was not especially warm, and some Colts fans took to social media to vent about the extra airtime and a player-name mistake on the broadcast. For a fan base watching its team overseas, the chatter around Kelce became part of the backdrop, turning a normal international showcase into another reminder of how quickly a familiar media face can become a lightning rod. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Marvin Harrison Jr. Scenario Worth Watching
A rookie wide receiver of Marvin Harrison Jr.s pedigree is already drawing attention around the league, and not just because of his draft status. Through his first three games with the Cardinals, the No. 4 overall pick has had limited production, enough to spark trade rumors and push ESPNs Adam Schefter to report that teams are doing due diligence ahead of the November deadline.
For the Colts, that creates a scenario worth monitoring even if nothing appears imminent. Any conversation about Harrison will quickly turn into a search for the right fit, the right fit in the wrong place, and the kind of roster math that can make a big-name move feel possible before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Owens And The Colts Just Got A Huge London Spotlight
Simone Biles has become one of the most visible supporters in the Colts orbit this season, showing up at games to back husband Jonathan Owens as he settles in with Indianapolis after stops with the Texans, Packers and Bears. Her latest appearance drew plenty of attention overseas, where she was spotted in London wearing a trench coat featuring Owens No. 38, a fittingly bold nod to a player whose NFL journey has already taken him across several teams.
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 🡒]