This Commanders vs Colts Week 4 recap centers on two things Washington fans won’t want to relive: another injury at quarterback, and a penalty disparity that bordered on absurd. The Commanders fell 30-13 to Indianapolis in London, dropping to 1-3 on the season. The Colts moved to 2-2.
Mariota Goes Down
Washington led 6-0 and looked in control early. Then disaster struck.
Marcus Mariota suffered a right knee injury on a first-quarter sack, split between Colts pass rushers Laiatu Latu and Adetomiwa Adebawore, and didn’t return. He finished 3 of 4 for 46 yards before exiting.
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Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis was forced into his first real NFL action in relief.
He managed an up-and-down debut behind a line that didn’t do him many favors. Washington came away with just 13 points on the afternoon, missing touchdowns on two separate red zone trips early.
With Jayden Daniels still sidelined by his own elbow injury, Washington is now down to its third different starting quarterback question mark in as many weeks.
The young QB out of Rutgers finished 15 of 33 on the day, for 186 yards. He threw a pick and a touchdown. It would have been two touchdowns, were it not for one getting called back after a penalty.
A Lopsided Afternoon From the Officials
The penalty count alone tells a stark story. Washington was flagged TEN times for 84 yards. Indianapolis was flagged once, for five yards, and that single penalty didn’t arrive until late – in the fourth quarter. Even the broadcast crew were surprised by some of the calls.
One moment stood out above the rest. Washington’s defense stopped Indianapolis on third-and-long, tackling receiver Josh Downs short of the sticks and appearing to force a field goal attempt. Instead, an unnecessary unnecessary roughness penalty on cornerback Amik Robertson extended the drive.
Three plays later, Jonathan Taylor scored on a five-yard run, flipping a stop into a 7-6 Colts lead. They never relinquished that lead.
Taylor finished with two touchdowns and nearly 100 yards rushing (95), powering Indianapolis to 10 points in each of the final three quarters.
Washington had a big moment negated on offense too, when holding and illegal shift penalties wiped out a would-be scoring celebration and pushed the Commanders into a third-and-long. That drive ultimately ended in a punt.
The Game Slips Away
Washington’s failed fourth-and-one decision added to a rough day. Head coach Dan Quinn’s choice to go for it with running back Craig Reynolds was stuffed. That set up a Colts scoring drive that pushed the lead to 27-13, when Indianapolis sealed it with a four-yard touchdown scramble early in the fourth quarter.
On The Ropes
Washington’s defense had its moments, including an early interception by Rasul Douglas, but penalties and the Mariota injury undid whatever momentum the Commanders carried in from last week’s win over Seattle.
At 1-3, with the quarterback situation more uncertain than ever, Washington heads home from London with plenty to sort out before Week 5.