Colts Beat Commanders 30–13 in London as Jonathan Taylor Scores Twice

The Indianapolis Colts beat the Washington Commanders 30–13 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday, October 4, recovering from a sloppy opening half before taking control behind Jonathan Taylor and their defense.

Taylor scored two five-yard rushing touchdowns, while quarterback Daniel Jones added a four-yard scoring run. The victory moved Indianapolis to 2–2 and extended the franchise’s international winning streak to three games after wins in Frankfurt in 2023 and Berlin in 2025.

A slow start, then a decisive turn

Indianapolis led 10–6 at halftime despite averaging only 3.4 yards per play and committing two turnovers. Taylor supplied the half’s only touchdown, and kicker Spencer Shrader added a 47-yard field goal as time expired.

The game changed after halftime. Washington backup quarterback Marcus Mariota left with a knee injury, forcing rookie Athan Kaliakmanis into action. Mariota had started because Jayden Daniels was unavailable with an elbow injury.

Colts linebacker Jaylon Carlies intercepted Kaliakmanis early in the third quarter, the first interception of Carlies’ career. Jones then connected with Laquon Treadwell to help set up Taylor’s second touchdown. Washington answered when Kaliakmanis found Treylon Burks for a 47-yard score, briefly cutting the margin to four.

Shrader restored a seven-point cushion with a 52-yard field goal. Indianapolis then leaned on Taylor during a 51-yard drive before Jones kept the ball on a zone read and ran four yards for a touchdown. A final 44-yard field goal produced the 30–13 score.

Taylor’s international mark

Taylor’s first touchdown was the fifth of his career outside the United States, according to the Colts, the most by any player in NFL international games. His second score and a 40-yard rushing contribution on the fourth-quarter touchdown drive made him central to Indianapolis’ recovery from its difficult start.

The Colts also benefited from a major discipline gap. Washington was penalized 10 times, while Indianapolis drew one flag. That disparity mattered early: an unnecessary-roughness penalty extended the Colts’ first touchdown drive after a third-down stop.

What the result means

Indianapolis reaches the quarter point of the regular season at .500 after turning a close game into a comfortable win. For Washington, the immediate concern is the quarterback room. Daniels was already sidelined, and Mariota’s knee injury left the offense in the hands of a seventh-round rookie for most of the second half.

The official team recap did not provide a final diagnosis or recovery timetable for Mariota. Any assessment of his availability should wait for the Commanders’ medical update.

For more international sports coverage, see AskNovus’ report on England’s 7–0 Nations League win over Croatia.

Sources

• Indianapolis Colts, October 4, 2026: official game recap
• NFL.com, October 4, 2026: Week 4 game analysis
• Associated Press via ClickOrlando, October 4, 2026: independent game report

Illustrative photo: American football by Dave Adamson/Unsplash.