Daniel Jones started out exactly how the preview feared. He fumbled early, Washington turned it into the game's first points, and the Commanders led 6-0 after the first quarter. From there it was the Colts' game. The Commanders also lost Jaylin Lane (ankle) and Charles Omenihu (groin) for the day, and safeties Tyler Owens (hamstring) and Jeremy Reaves (finger) were both listed as questionable to return. That's a lot of attrition on top of an inactive list that already had Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Rachaad White, Sam Cosmi and Nick Cross on it. The moneyline had already moved hard against Washington on the quarterback news, and the afternoon showed why.
Indianapolis was ahead 10-6 at halftime and never trailed again. The Colts scored exactly 10 points in each of the last 3 quarters. That's not an explosive offense, just one that kept finishing drives against a defense losing players as the game went on. Washington's 7 points in the third quarter were its only points after the opening quarter. Jones ended it himself with a rushing touchdown early in the fourth, and the Colts added a field goal on their next drive.
The preview wanted to know whether Mariota could repeat his Seattle game with Stefon Diggs as his top target. That never really got tested. Mariota threw 4 passes, and the Commanders spent the rest of the day with a third-stringer, no McLaurin, and Lane on the sideline. Jones's day fits the season so far: another lost ball that handed the other team points, and then the play that won the game. One fumble didn't cost the Colts this time, partly because Washington's offense couldn't do anything with the short fields after Mariota left.
The Commanders' injury report was already long before kickoff and it got longer in London. Mariota's tests decide who plays quarterback next week. Kaliakmanis is the only healthy option the data shows, with Daniels out and his elbow injury still unresolved. Washington also has receiver, guard and safety spots that keep coming back with the same names marked out.
Indianapolis lost to Baltimore and Kansas City to start the season and has now won 2 straight. Neither win came from a dominant offense, but both came from a team that kept scoring after a bad start. Washington's win over Seattle the week before ended up as a one-off between losses. The Commanders are 1-3, and the quarterback room just got thinner.