Washington’s Sunday trip to London ended in a 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but it was one absolutely wild statistic that truly nailed how brutal the day was for the Commanders’ offense.
Early Hope, Sudden Disaster
The Commanders went into the game with starting quarterback Jayden Daniels still sidelined, out for the second straight season with a dislocated left elbow. So, veteran Marcus Mariota was back under center. In the early going, Mariota actually sparked some hope, leading the Commanders to a 6-0 lead on a pair of field goal drives. He even started the second possession with a big run off the left side, showing some real juice. But then, it all fell apart. Mariota was knocked out of the game on a hit at the conclusion of that very drive. He was checked out in the blue medical tent, then taken to the locker room for evaluation of a potential knee injury, and eventually ruled out. Just like that, two drives, and the starting QB was gone.
A Rookie Steps In, The Run Game Disappears
With Mariota out, head coach Dan Quinn had no choice but to turn to rookie third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. Look, the kid performed admirably for a player in that crazy situation, completing 15-of-33 passes for 186 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. That’s not terrible for a guy thrown into the fire in London. But here’s the kicker, and what really shows you how Indianapolis changed their game plan: After Mariota exited, it was crystal clear the Colts made stopping the run their absolute top priority. And boy, did they succeed.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
How obvious was their defensive adjustment? By the time the final whistle blew, sealing the 30-13 Colts victory, Mariota, who played just two drives, remained Washington’s leading rusher. Seriously, think about that for a second. Mariota had one attempt for 35 yards. Behind him, Austin Ekeler had four attempts for only 29 yards. Even Kaliakmanis added three carries for 16 yards. One play, one run, and Mariota was still the guy at the top of the rushing leaderboard. That’s the kind of brutal Sunday it was for Washington in London, where an early injury completely derailed any offensive momentum they had.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply