The Indianapolis Colts turned an early deficit into a comfortable 30-13 victory over the Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, riding Jonathan Taylor's two touchdowns in the NFL's first London game of the season.
Washington struck first, with kicker Drew Stevens converting field goals of 31 and 29 yards for a 6-0 lead. But the Colts took control late in the first half: Taylor's first five-yard touchdown run with 3:23 remaining put Indianapolis ahead for good, and Spencer Shrader's 48-yard field goal made it 10-6 at the break. Taylor scored again from five yards out in the third quarter, and Shrader added field goals of 52 and 44 yards to seal the win.
Taylor stars as Jones grinds
Taylor finished with 95 rushing yards on 20 carries, while quarterback Daniel Jones endured a mixed afternoon — 19 of 34 for 143 yards with an interception and a lost fumble — before clinching the result with a five-yard touchdown run with 11:38 left in the game.
The victory pulled the Colts to 2-2 and gave them consecutive wins for the first time since Weeks 7-8 of last season. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host another NFL game next week when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Commanders' quarterback crisis deepens
The Commanders (1-3) played most of the game with their third-string quarterback. Starter Jayden Daniels was already out with a dislocated elbow, and backup Marcus Mariota left in the first quarter with a knee injury after completing three of four passes. That forced rookie Athan Kaliakmanis into his NFL debut: he completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards with a touchdown — a 47-yard strike — and an interception, and had an 87-yard touchdown pass wiped out by a penalty.
Washington also lost return specialist Jaylin Lane to an ankle injury, and the Commanders were flagged 10 times for 84 yards compared to a single five-yard penalty for Indianapolis.
Sources:
Jonathan Taylor, Colts rush past injury-riddled Commanders — Reuters
Colts roll to victory over Commanders: winners and losers of NFL London game — USA Today
Jonathan Taylor and the Colts top Athan Kaliakmanis and the Commanders in London — NBC Sports
Washington struck first, with kicker Drew Stevens converting field goals of 31 and 29 yards for a 6-0 lead. But the Colts took control late in the first half: Taylor's first five-yard touchdown run with 3:23 remaining put Indianapolis ahead for good, and Spencer Shrader's 48-yard field goal made it 10-6 at the break. Taylor scored again from five yards out in the third quarter, and Shrader added field goals of 52 and 44 yards to seal the win.
Taylor stars as Jones grinds
Taylor finished with 95 rushing yards on 20 carries, while quarterback Daniel Jones endured a mixed afternoon — 19 of 34 for 143 yards with an interception and a lost fumble — before clinching the result with a five-yard touchdown run with 11:38 left in the game.
The victory pulled the Colts to 2-2 and gave them consecutive wins for the first time since Weeks 7-8 of last season. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host another NFL game next week when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Commanders' quarterback crisis deepens
The Commanders (1-3) played most of the game with their third-string quarterback. Starter Jayden Daniels was already out with a dislocated elbow, and backup Marcus Mariota left in the first quarter with a knee injury after completing three of four passes. That forced rookie Athan Kaliakmanis into his NFL debut: he completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards with a touchdown — a 47-yard strike — and an interception, and had an 87-yard touchdown pass wiped out by a penalty.
Washington also lost return specialist Jaylin Lane to an ankle injury, and the Commanders were flagged 10 times for 84 yards compared to a single five-yard penalty for Indianapolis.
Sources:
Jonathan Taylor, Colts rush past injury-riddled Commanders — Reuters
Colts roll to victory over Commanders: winners and losers of NFL London game — USA Today
Jonathan Taylor and the Colts top Athan Kaliakmanis and the Commanders in London — NBC Sports
