Our Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks just took a gut punch last Sunday, falling in a thrilling upset to the Washington Commanders. Now, those same Commanders, fresh off that shocking win, are heading to London to face the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL International Series. Both teams are coming off their first wins of the season, but if you thought the Commanders’ defense was bad, wait ’til you see what’s brewing across the pond.
Mariota’s Moment, Daniels’ Doubt, and Our Disappointment
Look, it’s still hard to swallow that loss to the Commanders. Our reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks falling to a 1-2 team? Oof. But credit where credit’s due: Marcus Mariota, stepping in for the injured Jayden Daniels, balled out last Sunday. The guy threw for 183 yards and THREE touchdowns in that win over our Hawks. He’s showing why he’s considered one of the best backup QBs in the league, especially with Daniels still nursing that dislocated elbow from Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year who led Washington to a 12-5 record and an NFC Championship appearance, is a talent, sure. He even joined Lamar Jackson as only the second player ever to log 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season, including playoffs. But he’s missed 11 of the last 20 games due to injury, and he’s still limited in practice, sporting a brace on his left arm.
Here’s the kicker though, and this is why that loss to us stings even more: the Commanders’ defense is flat-out bad. We’re talking second-worst scoring defense in the NFL, giving up 30.7 points per game. Their passing defense? Also second-worst, letting up 280.3 yards through the air per game. And those 11 passing touchdowns they’ve allowed? That’s the most in the entire league this year. How did we lose to *that*? It’s baffling.
The Colts’ Defense is Worse, But What About Their Offense?
If you thought the Commanders were rough defensively, get ready. The Indianapolis Colts, led by Jonathan Taylor, are somehow even worse. They rank DEAD LAST in total defense, giving up a whopping 417.3 yards per game. And for scoring defense, they’re third-worst, letting opponents put up 30.3 points per game. So yeah, this London game is shaping up to be a complete shootout, if these defenses have anything to say about it.
Offensively, the Colts are trying to figure things out without Alec Pierce, who’s on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Josh Downs has stepped up big time, catching 12 passes for 149 yards over the last two weeks, and he’ll be crucial with Keenan Allen also ruled out due to a groin injury. Daniel Jones is leading their offense at quarterback, but he’s been pretty consistent, not in a good way: one touchdown and one interception in each game this year. Can he actually find a spark against Washington’s league-worst passing defense? He’ll need to if they want to get to 2-2.
Brace Yourself for a Pointapalooza in London
Seriously, both these teams are putting on defensive clinics… of how *not* to play defense. The Colts are giving up over 400 yards a game, and the Commanders aren’t far behind in overall defensive futility, especially against the pass. If you’re looking for a defensive struggle, this ain’t it, chief. This matchup is screaming “high-scoring battle” because neither team can stop a nosebleed. It’s a clash of defensive titans, just not in the way anyone wants. They’ve both just grabbed their first wins, but the path to victory for either in London is going to have to be through outscoring the other.
So, while our Seahawks are left scratching their heads after that upset, the Commanders and Colts are gearing up for what could be an absolute offensive fireworks show in London on Sunday, October 4th, kicking off bright and early at 9:30 a.m. ET. With both clubs sporting 1-2 records and defenses that are allergic to stopping opposing offenses, expect a ton of points. Let’s just hope our Hawks can learn something from watching two teams that *can’t* play defense… and maybe avoid any more “thrilling upsets” themselves.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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