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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington led 6-0 and looked in control early. Then disaster struck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis was forced into his first real NFL action in relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The penalty count alone tells a stark story. Washington was flagged TEN<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/em> unnecessary roughness penalty on cornerback Amik Robertson extended the drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Taylor finished with two touchdowns and nearly 100 yards rushing (95), powering Indianapolis to 10 points in each of the final three quarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At 1-3, with the quarterback situation more uncertain than ever, Washington heads home from London with plenty to sort out before Week 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Game Slips Away<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On The Ropes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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