Indianapolis Colts 30 · Washington Commanders 13
Team assessments and season evidence from our Week 4 recap.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium · 2026-10-04
The final score was Indianapolis Colts 30 · Washington Commanders 13. The breakdown below uses this game’s figures, separate from season averages.
The scoring path
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 0 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Washington Commanders | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| Measure | Indianapolis Colts | Washington Commanders |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 17 | 12 |
| Total yards | 257 | 317 |
| Yards per play | 3.9 | 5.2 |
| Passing yards | 129 | 217 |
| Rushing yards | 128 | 100 |
| Third-down conversions | 5-16 | 2-15 |
| Red-zone touchdowns / trips | 3-3 | 0-2 |
| Giveaways | 2 | 1 |
| Possession time | 30:40 | 29:20 |
Third-down conversion is shown as its own measure. It is not a substitute for overall play success rate. A dash means the source did not supply that field.
The Lab’s result test
Indianapolis Colts won by 17 points. Q2 supplied the largest scoring swing in the winner’s favor, a +10-points period. The chart shows the result’s path; the box score helps explain what created it.
Indianapolis Colts produced 257 total yards; Washington Commanders produced 317. Yardage describes how much ground was gained, not whether the most valuable drives were finished.
Indianapolis Colts committed 2 giveaways against the opponent’s 1. The winner still had to overcome a worse giveaway count.
The next test is repeatability. Separate staying on schedule from long gains, then examine field position and drive finishing. A large yardage total can coexist with missed scoring chances; a short field can make a modest drive valuable.
Our game coverage
Game played 2026-10-04. These assessments cover the season through October 5, 2026, including this game.
Read the complete Week 4 article →
Colts | 2-2
Read the table as text
| Season evidence | Colts | Opponents |
|---|---|---|
| Plays keeping pace | 43.0% | 44.0% |
| Long gains | 23 | 25 |
| Points / threatening drives | 102 / 24 | 104 / 26 |
| Defensive takeaways | 2 | 8 |
| Special-teams recoveries | 0 | 0 |
Indianapolis has been fairly consistent at moving the ball and remarkably consistent at putting that movement at risk. Its weekly useful-play shares have stayed between 40.6 and 46.0 percent. Its giveaways have run two, one, three and two. The Colts have eight giveaways against just two defensive takeaways, meaning the two-game winning streak has not repaired their most repeated possession problem. Their defense has also allowed 104 offensive points from 26 threatening possessions, close to the offense's 102 from 24.
Daniel Jones said “Can’t afford to turn the ball over like that”. He had just won 30-13 while contributing both of Sunday's giveaways. The scoreboard does not repeal his statement. Jonathan Taylor's 95 rushing yards and two touchdowns helped restore order, and an interception handed Indianapolis a 20-yard touchdown possession. The other offensive work still mattered, especially the answer after Washington cut the lead to four. At 2-2, the Colts have evidence of resilience and very little evidence that the turnover problem has stopped.
After opponent punts or failed fourth downs, Colts possessions have begun at their own 26.4, on average, across 20 competitive drives. The weekly average has varied widely, from their own 10.2 to their own 36.1. The latest game averaged their own 36.1. The resulting possession started at midfield or closer to the end zone in 2 of those 20 cases. These are actual starting spots, including punt returns, rather than a measure of the defense alone. The return unit has added 25 punt-return yards over the season. Starts following turnovers are counted separately: 2 competitive possessions at their opponent 17.5 on average.
Commanders | 1-3
Read the table as text
| Season evidence | Commanders | Opponents |
|---|---|---|
| Plays keeping pace | 37.6% | 45.1% |
| Long gains | 20 | 21 |
| Points / threatening drives | 82 / 22 | 119 / 22 |
| Defensive takeaways | 5 | 2 |
| Special-teams recoveries | 0 | 0 |
Washington's offense has become less dependable as its quarterback options have narrowed, but the season's defensive weakness is also substantial. Opponents have returned 119 offensive points from 22 threatening drives, compared with Washington's 82 from the same number. The offense's useful-play share has varied from 26.2 to 52.2 percent. Its five defensive takeaways all came in the last two games, and its own two giveaways have been rare. Protecting the ball has not supplied enough sustained progress.
Sunday's 30-13 loss made the distinction clear. Two early trips near the goal line ended in field goals, and two Indianapolis giveaways did not become a durable lead. After Marcus Mariota left injured, Athan Kaliakmanis supplied a 47-yard touchdown and a 48-yard completion. The offense still made useful gains on only 26.2 percent of its plays. Those two throws supplied 95 of his 186 passing yards. Washington can find a spectacular answer without finding the routine answer. At 1-3, it needs much more of the latter.
After opponent punts or failed fourth downs, Commanders possessions have begun at their own 21.9, on average, across 17 competitive drives. The weekly average has varied widely, from their own 15.2 to their own 35.0. The latest game averaged their own 15.2. The resulting possession started at midfield or closer to the end zone in 0 of those 17 cases. These are actual starting spots, including punt returns, rather than a measure of the defense alone. The return unit has added 84 punt-return yards over the season. Pre-snap changes before the first run or pass affected 1 of these drives; those changes are excluded from the listed starting spots. Starts following turnovers are counted separately: 4 competitive possessions at their opponent 37.0 on average.