Washington had plenty of issues of its own in London, but the Commanders also walked into a game where the whistle seemed to go one way far too often.
The numbers tell the story in blunt fashion: Indianapolis was flagged once for five yards, while Washington drew 10 penalties for 84 yards. Several of those flags were marginal, and a few arrived at the worst possible moments.
That reality hit early in the second quarter when cornerback Amik Robertson was penalized for a personal foul that looked extremely weak. At that point, Washington had been in control on defense even after veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota left the game. The Commanders had just forced the Colts into a Spencer Shrader field goal, a stop that would have kept Washington ahead 6-3.
Instead, Indianapolis got a fresh set of downs in the red zone and Jonathan Taylor finished the drive a few plays later. The Colts grabbed the lead there and never gave it back.
The officiating only became more maddening from there. Rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams had an 87-yard catch-and-run touchdown wiped out by two phantom penalties.
Stefon Diggs lost a good gain to a ticky-tack offensive pass interference call. On the other side, the Colts were allowed to keep pounding Athan Kaliakmanis after he let the ball go, and they even ran a punt return after signaling for a fair catch without drawing a flag.
For Commanders fans up at 9:30 a.m. on the American East Coast, it was a rough watch.
Washington still has to own its share of the mess. David Blough’s offense was extremely limited with its third-string quarterback, and Kaliakmanis spent much of the game throwing prayers and hoping something would land. A couple did, but most didn’t.
Even so, the officials clearly swung momentum in a game that had already tilted against Washington, and this was hardly the first time it has happened this season.
In Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, wide receiver Dyami Brown caught what looked like a deep touchdown from Mariota, only for it to be ruled incomplete for what reason?
Outside of Week 3’s miracle win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, the Commanders have spent most of the season battling things they can’t control.
Add in the schedule and the injuries, and it has been about as difficult a first month as anyone could draw up.
On Sunday, Washington had to deal with two opponents.
In Other News...
Commanders Quarterback Crisis May Force A Familiar Fix
Marcus Mariotas MCL injury has pushed the Commanders deeper into a quarterback bind, with Dan Quinn still waiting on further tests to get a clearer read on how long the veteran might be sidelined. Washington is already working through the recovery of Jayden Daniels, who is coming back from a dislocated elbow, leaving the staff to sort through an increasingly thin room at the games most important position.
Jeff Driskel is one familiar name under consideration as the Commanders evaluate temporary options, and his previous stint with the organization gives the idea some practical appeal. For a team trying to keep the season steady while the injuries stack up, the next move at quarterback could be less about upside than it is about survival. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Quarterback Question They Didn't Expect
The Commanders went into Week 4 expecting one storyline at quarterback and came out with another. Marcus Mariota is headed for some missed time with a knee injury, while Jayden Daniels is set to return despite an elbow issue, leaving Washington to sort through a depth chart that suddenly looks far less settled than it did a week ago.
Athan Kaliakmanis got the first real crack at the offense in Mariotas place and at least gave the Commanders a glimpse of what he can do, tossing a touchdown pass before the loss. For a team trying to stay afloat in the middle of an unpredictable early season, the bigger question now is not just who starts next, but how the Commanders manage a quarterback room that was supposed to be stable and is anything but. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Finally Near A Jayden Daniels Return With One Big Catch
After the loss to the Colts, Dan Quinn said the Commanders are hopeful Jayden Daniels can make it back for Week 5 against the Giants, a timeline that would at least steady a quarterback room that has been stretched thin. Daniels was limited in practice this week, but the expectation is that he should be full go when Washington ramps up for the next game, an encouraging sign for a player who has already dealt with two dislocated elbows in less than a year.
The bigger complication is what sits behind him. Marcus Mariota is getting further testing after aggravating a preseason MCL injury, and third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was forced into Sundays game, where he threw a touchdown and an interception. Even with Daniels trending the right way, Washington still has to sort through how much depth it will have available if the return is delayed or if the next hit to the depth chart comes before he is fully settled back in. [Read more 🡒]