The Indianapolis Colts vs Washington Commanders Match Player Stats 30-13 on October 4, 2026, in an NFL Week 4 matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Indianapolis entered the game looking to reach a .500 record after an uneven opening to the season, while Washington was already dealing with major personnel problems. The Colts eventually controlled the contest through their running game, defensive pressure and reliable kicking. Jonathan Taylor scored two rushing touchdowns, Daniel Jones added a rushing touchdown, and Spencer Shrader converted three field goals as Indianapolis finished the afternoon with a 17-point victory.
The game also became heavily influenced by Washington’s quarterback situation. Jayden Daniels was unavailable because of his elbow injury, leaving Marcus Mariota to start. Mariota completed three of four passes for 46 yards and added a 35-yard run before leaving with a knee injury in the first quarter. Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis then entered for his NFL debut and completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Despite Washington finishing with more total yards than Indianapolis, the Colts produced points more consistently and improved to 2-2.
Final Score
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Teams | Indianapolis Colts vs Washington Commanders |
| Date | October 4, 2026 |
| Week | NFL Week 4 |
| Venue | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London |
| Final Score | Colts 30, Commanders 13 |
| Colts Record | 2-2 |
| Commanders Record | 1-3 |
Indianapolis did not start the game with an immediate offensive surge. Washington opened the scoring with two field goals from Drew Stevens and held a 6-0 advantage after the first quarter. The Colts responded in the second period when Jonathan Taylor scored from five yards, followed by a 48-yard field goal from Spencer Shrader. Indianapolis therefore entered halftime ahead 10-6 despite having an offense that was still struggling to generate consistent yardage.
The second half produced the separation Indianapolis needed. Taylor scored another five-yard touchdown in the third quarter, while Washington answered with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Kaliakmanis to Treylon Burks. Shrader then added a 52-yard field goal before Daniel Jones extended the Colts’ advantage with a four-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. A final 44-yard Shrader field goal made the score 30-13.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
Washington controlled the scoreboard during the opening quarter, but its advantage came entirely through field goals. Stevens connected from 31 and 29 yards, giving the Commanders a 6-0 lead. Indianapolis struggled to move the football early, while Washington’s defense applied pressure and forced the Colts into difficult situations. The Commanders appeared capable of establishing control, but the inability to convert early opportunities into touchdowns limited the value of their promising start.
Indianapolis changed the direction of the game in the second quarter. Taylor’s five-yard touchdown run finally put the Colts in front at 7-6, and Shrader’s 48-yard field goal pushed the margin to four points. Taylor then scored again in the third quarter, followed by Burks’ 47-yard touchdown for Washington. Shrader’s 52-yard field goal restored Indianapolis’ seven-point advantage before Jones and Shrader combined to provide 13 fourth-quarter points. The Colts finished the game without allowing another Washington score after the third quarter.
Indianapolis Colts Passing and Rushing Performance
Daniel Jones completed 19 of 34 attempts for 143 passing yards with one interception. His completion rate was 55.9 percent, and he was sacked twice for 14 yards. The passing numbers were modest, but Jones contributed directly on the ground with a four-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. That score helped Indianapolis move from a competitive seven-point lead into a more comfortable 27-13 position with less than 12 minutes remaining.
The Colts’ rushing attack provided the foundation for the victory. Jonathan Taylor carried 20 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.75 yards per attempt. Seth McGowan added 31 yards on six carries, while Jones contributed two rushing yards and a touchdown. Indianapolis finished with 128 net rushing yards on 30 attempts. Taylor’s two five-yard touchdown runs were particularly important because they turned field-position opportunities into touchdowns instead of settling for additional field goals.
| Colts Player | Passing/Rushing Stats |
|---|---|
| Daniel Jones | 19/34, 143 pass yards, 1 INT; 4 rushes, 2 yards, 1 TD |
| Jonathan Taylor | 20 rushes, 95 yards, 2 TD |
| Seth McGowan | 6 rushes, 31 yards |
| Laquon Treadwell | 5 receptions, 42 yards |
| Tyler Warren | 5 receptions, 41 yards |
Washington Commanders Passing and Rushing Performance
Washington’s passing statistics were divided between two quarterbacks because of the injury to Mariota. Mariota completed three of four attempts for 46 yards before leaving the game. He also produced a 35-yard rushing gain, which was Washington’s longest rushing play of the contest. Kaliakmanis then took over and completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His touchdown came on a 47-yard connection with Treylon Burks in the third quarter.
The Commanders finished with 100 net rushing yards on 22 attempts, but Mariota’s early 35-yard run accounted for a significant portion of that production. Austin Ekeler added 29 yards on four carries, while Kaliakmanis ran three times for 16 yards. The Colts limited Washington’s running game on most other attempts and forced the Commanders to rely increasingly on a rookie quarterback. Washington ultimately gained 317 total yards, but much of that yardage did not translate into sustained scoring drives.
| Commanders Player | Key Stats |
|---|---|
| Athan Kaliakmanis | 15/33, 186 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Marcus Mariota | 3/4, 46 yards; 1 rush, 35 yards |
| Austin Ekeler | 4 rushes, 29 yards |
| Dyami Brown | 3 receptions, 65 yards |
| Treylon Burks | 1 reception, 47 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving Leaders and Key Offensive Plays
Indianapolis spread its limited passing production across several targets rather than relying on one dominant receiving performance. Laquon Treadwell led the Colts with five receptions for 42 yards, while Tyler Warren also caught five passes for 41 yards. Ashton Dulin added three receptions for 29 yards. The Colts did not need a large receiving total because Taylor’s rushing production and the kicking game provided much of their scoring output.
Washington generated more explosive receiving plays despite losing its starting and backup quarterbacks during the game. Dyami Brown led the Commanders with three receptions for 65 yards, including a 48-yard gain. Treylon Burks recorded only one reception, but it was significant: his 47-yard touchdown from Kaliakmanis briefly reduced Indianapolis’ advantage to 17-13. Jacory Croskey-Merritt added two receptions for 35 yards. The contrast showed that Washington could create explosive plays, but it struggled to sustain drives afterward.
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Team Statistics and Efficiency
The overall team statistics provide an important explanation for the final score. Washington actually finished with 317 total net yards compared with 257 for Indianapolis. The Commanders also averaged 5.2 yards per play, compared with 3.9 for the Colts. However, Indianapolis gained 17 first downs to Washington’s 12 and converted five of 16 third downs. Washington converted only two of 15 third-down opportunities, making it difficult to sustain possessions despite its higher yardage total.
The biggest statistical difference came through discipline and situational execution. Washington committed 10 penalties for 84 yards, while Indianapolis was charged with only one penalty for five yards. The Colts also converted their only fourth-down attempt, while Washington converted one of four. Indianapolis held the ball for 30:40, compared with 29:20 for Washington. These details help explain why the Colts could win by 17 points even though the Commanders accumulated 60 more total yards.
| Team Stat | Colts | Commanders |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 257 | 317 |
| Rushing yards | 128 | 100 |
| Passing yards | 129 net | 217 net |
| Total plays | 66 | 61 |
| Yards per play | 3.9 | 5.2 |
| First downs | 17 | 12 |
| Third down | 5/16 | 2/15 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:40 | 29:20 |
| Penalties | 1-5 | 10-84 |
Turning Points of the Game
One of the first major turning points came when Washington lost Mariota. He had completed three of four passes and produced a 35-yard rushing gain before leaving after being sacked. The Commanders then had to place a rookie quarterback into an NFL game against an Indianapolis defense that had already begun applying pressure. Kaliakmanis showed enough ability to create a 47-yard touchdown pass, but the change at quarterback made Washington’s offensive operation more difficult.
The Colts then turned field position into points throughout the second half. Jaylon Carlies intercepted Kaliakmanis early in the third quarter, and Indianapolis used the resulting opportunity to set up Taylor’s second touchdown. Later, Indianapolis’ defense stopped Washington on fourth down when Laiatu Latu disrupted a fourth-and-one situation. The Colts then turned the short field into Shrader’s 44-yard field goal. Those plays helped Indianapolis move from a narrow lead into a decisive fourth-quarter advantage.
Defensive and Special Teams Analysis
Indianapolis’ defense played an important role even though Washington finished with 317 yards. The Colts forced Washington into only two successful third-down conversions from 15 attempts. That meant the Commanders frequently had to punt or attempt to convert difficult fourth-down situations. Carlies’ interception was particularly valuable because it stopped a Washington possession and helped Indianapolis establish another scoring opportunity in the third quarter.
Special teams also played a major role in the result. Spencer Shrader converted field goals from 48, 52 and 44 yards, providing nine points that became increasingly important as the Colts’ offense worked through its passing struggles. Washington’s Drew Stevens also converted two field goals, but the Commanders were unable to match Indianapolis’ scoring consistency after halftime. By the fourth quarter, the Colts had created enough separation for their defense and kicking game to protect the lead.
Week 4 Significance for Both Teams
The victory moved Indianapolis to 2-2 after four games. The Colts entered the season unevenly but finished the first quarter of the campaign back at .500. The London victory was also significant because Indianapolis extended its international winning streak to three games, following previous international victories in Frankfurt in 2023 and Berlin in 2025. Taylor continued to play an important role in that international success, with his two touchdowns adding to his production outside the United States.
For Washington, the 30-13 defeat dropped the Commanders to 1-3 and added another complication to an already difficult quarterback situation. Daniels was unavailable, Mariota left early, and Kaliakmanis was forced into his NFL debut with little preparation for the situation. Washington’s 317 yards demonstrated that the offense could still produce movement, but the 10 penalties, poor third-down conversion rate and limited scoring opportunities prevented those yards from becoming enough points. The Commanders left London needing to address both their health situation and offensive consistency.
Conclusion
The Indianapolis Colts’ 30-13 victory over the Washington Commanders was decided less by total yardage and more by execution in important situations. Washington gained 317 yards, but Indianapolis produced 17 first downs, converted more third downs, committed only one penalty and scored consistently after halftime. Jonathan Taylor supplied two rushing touchdowns, Daniel Jones added another on the ground, and Spencer Shrader delivered three field goals. Those contributions gave Indianapolis enough scoring production to overcome its relatively modest 257-yard offensive total.
The result also reflected the difficult circumstances facing Washington. The Commanders began without Jayden Daniels and then lost Marcus Mariota during the first quarter, forcing rookie Athan Kaliakmanis into action. Kaliakmanis threw for 186 yards and a touchdown, including the 47-yard score to Treylon Burks, but Washington could not maintain offensive momentum. Indianapolis ultimately pulled away with 13 fourth-quarter points and secured a 30-13 victory in London. For the Colts, the win brought the record to 2-2; for Washington, the loss left the team at 1-3 after Week 4.
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