The Indianapolis Colts beat the Washington Commanders 30-13 in London on Sunday despite being outgained, because they finished drives and Washington did not. The Colts went 3-for-3 in the red zone. The Commanders went 0-for-2 and committed 10 penalties for 84 yards.

Washington had the better yardage day, 317 total yards to 257, and gained more per play. None of it mattered once the Commanders stalled on third down, converting just 2 of 15, and on fourth down, where they went 1-for-4.

How It Happened

Washington opened the scoring with a pair of Drew Stevens field goals in the first quarter. He hit from 31 yards at 12:57 and from 29 yards at 6:21, giving the Commanders a 6-0 lead after one.

Indianapolis answered in the second quarter. Jonathan Taylor ran in from 5 yards at 3:23 to put the Colts ahead 7-6, and Spencer Shrader drilled a 48-yard field goal as the half expired for a 10-6 lead.

The third quarter opened the same way. Taylor scored again from 5 yards at 12:45 to make it 17-6. Washington struck back quickly when Athan Kaliakmanis found Treylon Burks for a 47-yard touchdown at 10:39, cutting the gap to 17-13.

That was the last time the Commanders scored. Shrader hit from 52 yards at 7:03 to restore a 7-point lead heading toward the fourth.

Daniel Jones put the game away with a 4-yard touchdown run at 11:38 of the fourth quarter. Shrader added a 44-yard field goal at 5:48 for the final margin.

Key Performers

Rushing: Jonathan Taylor – 2 TD (5 YDS, 5 YDS)
Kicking: Spencer Shrader – 3 FG (48, 52, 44 YDS), 3 XP
Rushing: Daniel Jones – 1 TD (4 YDS)
Receiving: Treylon Burks – 1 TD (47 YDS, from Athan Kaliakmanis)
Kicking: Drew Stevens – 2 FG (31, 29 YDS), 1 XP

Taylor was the difference near the goal line, accounting for two of the Colts' three touchdowns, one before halftime and one early in the third. Shrader scored 12 points on his own, and his 52-yarder came right after Washington had pulled within 4.

The Colts moved the chains on the ground. Indianapolis carried 30 times for 128 yards and picked up 10 first downs rushing, compared with 6 through the air. Washington managed just 4 rushing first downs.

What It Means

Indianapolis improves to 2-2. The Colts won without a clean game through the air, averaging under 4 yards per pass attempt and losing the turnover battle 2 to 1. Winning that way is about discipline: they were flagged only once, for 5 yards.

Washington falls to 1-3. The yardage says the Commanders could move the ball, but 10 penalties, a dismal third-down rate and no touchdowns on two red-zone trips turned a competitive game into a 17-point loss. Two field goals on their first two scoring drives set the tone for a day of settling.

The fix for Washington is not complicated to identify. A team that outgains its opponent should not lose by 17, and the Commanders' only touchdown came on a single long throw rather than a sustained finish.