Colts rally from early deficit to claim a 30-13 victory over the Commanders at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, highlighted by two Taylor touchdowns and flawless kicking.
The NFL International Series opened its 2026 triple-header on Sunday, October 4, with a clash between the Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. 60,907 fans packed the venue for the 13th regular-season NFL game ever held at the English arena.
After a sluggish start, Indianapolis seized control and finished with a commanding 30-13 win.
Commanders seize early advantage
Washington, designated as the home side, opened the contest with a methodical drive that culminated in a field goal from kicker Drew Stevens.
At the three-minute mark, Stevens drilled a 31-yard attempt, putting the Commanders ahead 3-0. A second successful kick from 29 yards later extended the lead to 6-0 by the end of the first quarter. The early points were the only scores for Washington before the midway point.
Colts answer with rushing power
Indianapolis struggled to move the ball through the air in the opening periods, but the ground game soon sparked life. With 3:23 left in the second quarter, running back Jonathan Taylor broke through for a five-yard touchdown, giving the Colts their first points. Kicker Spencer Shrader added a 48-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the half, nudging the score to 10-6 in Indianapolis’ favour at the break.
Second-quarter momentum shift
The momentum swing continued early in the third quarter when Taylor capped a short drive with another five-yard rush, extending the lead to 17-6. Shrader’s reliable leg contributed a 52-yard field goal five minutes later, solidifying a 20-6 cushion. Washington’s response arrived when rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis connected with wide receiver Treylon Burks on a 47-yard strike, closing the gap to 20-13 with just over two minutes remaining in the period.
Late-game sealing and final statistics
In the fourth quarter, Colts quarterback Daniel Jones scrambled for a four-yard touchdown, pushing the margin to 27-13. Shrader finished the night with a 44-yard field goal, capping the scoreboard at 30-13. Jones completed 19 of 34 passes for 143 yards, while Taylor amassed 95 rushing yards on 20 carries and secured both of his touchdowns. For Washington, Kaliakmanis threw for 186 yards and one score, but also recorded an interception. The loss marked the Commanders’ first defeat in an international setting, while the Colts improved to 3-1 in London outings since their inaugural overseas game in 2005.
Coaches’ reflections
Head coach Dan Quinn acknowledged the early defensive effort but lamented the reliance on field goals: “I loved the way the defence started, created some takeaways, but to only get field goals out of those… Our team is really tough, and we’re back to the division game.” Meanwhile, kicker Spencer Shrader described his mental routine: “The same three things every time: tempo, eyes down, follow through straight. It’s simple, but the pressure of a single kick makes it exhausting.”
