A Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts matchup doesn’t come around often. Different conferences, different divisions, and a scheduling rotation that pairs the NFC East with the AFC South only once every four years. This week, that rare date is finally here: Sunday, October 4, 2026, per the current NFL Week 4 slate, with kickoff set for 9:30 a.m. ET (2:30 p.m. BST) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Washington is the designated home team, and it is the first of three NFL games scheduled for the English capital this season.
They have Daniel Jones back under center after last year’s Achilles tear, but top receiver Alec Pierce is on injured reserve. On paper, this looks like a coin flip with a slight Indianapolis lean. But anyone who has watched an Indianapolis Colts vs Washington Commanders game knows the box score rarely tells the full story. The last time these two met, in October 2022, Washington won 17-16 on a 1-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds left, and history says this one is unlikely to be a laugher.
So here’s everything that matters heading into kickoff: where each team stands right now, the complete Colts vs Commanders head-to-head history, a full breakdown of the last time these two shared a field, where to watch Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts wherever you are, and a set of quick FAQs to wrap things up.
Washington Commanders: Trying to Steady a Rebuild Under Dan Quinn
Washington spent most of 2025 learning how quickly a promising foundation can crack. After a 12-5 season and a trip to the NFC Championship Game in 2024, the Washington Commanders fell to 5-12 and finished third in the NFC East, with injuries, especially to Daniels, gutting the year. The 2026 season is the chance to reset. Third-year head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters retooled the defense through free agency, adding edge rusher Odafe Oweh and linebacker Leo Chenal, and rookie linebacker Sonny Styles has already made his presence felt. Cautious optimism is back in the nation’s capital, even if the first three weeks have been a rollercoaster.
Enter Marcus Mariota, the 2014 Heisman winner and 2015 No. 2 overall pick. In Week 3 the 32-year-old threw three touchdown passes, committed zero turnovers and helped end Seattle’s 12-game winning streak. Rookie Kain Medrano’s 50-yard interception return for a touchdown with 3:57 to play was the decisive blow, and Mariota sealed it with a 9-yard run on third-and-7 with 1:15 left. Washington did it without five starters, including Daniels, and lost Chenal to a scary neck injury along the way. The win also snapped a six-game home losing streak.
What Makes Washington’s Offense Tick
- Marcus Mariota gives the offense a steady hand. He finished 19 of 31 for 183 yards and three touchdowns against Seattle, and through three games he has four touchdown passes without an interception. Teammates reportedly asked Quinn if they could name him a captain for the rest of the season.
- Jayden Daniels raises the ceiling of the entire operation when he’s on the field. His legs and his arm make him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the sport, though durability is now the central question of his career.
- A veteran receiver group led by Terry McLaurin, an Indianapolis native who caught six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown against Seattle, plus Stefon Diggs, Antonio Williams and Treylon Burks, who caught an 11-yard touchdown in Week 3.
- A committee backfield of Rachaad White and Jacory Croskey-Merritt, with White scoring on a 6-yard reception and breaking off a key 19-yard run against the Seahawks.
- An opportunistic defense that forced three Seattle turnovers and turned them into 20 points, with Medrano, Tim Settle and Styles making plays.
Washington Commanders Snapshot
| Detail | Washington Commanders |
| Division | NFC East |
| Head coach | Dan Quinn (3rd season) |
| GM | Adam Peters |
| Starting QB this week | Marcus Mariota (Daniels’ status TBD) |
| 2025 record | 5-12 (third in NFC East) |
| Identity | Rebuilt defense, dynamic quarterback when healthy, veteran skill players |
| Recent form | 1-2 to start 2026; first home win in seven tries |
| 2026 season start | Lost at Philadelphia 24-22 (Wk 1), lost at Dallas 37-20 (Wk 2), beat Seattle 33-31 (Wk 3) |
Looking at the Washington Commanders games so far this season, the story is one of resilience more than polish. The Commanders sit 1-2 in the NFC East, and for a fan base that watched a 5-12 season in 2025, a comeback win over the reigning champions with a backup quarterback still counts as real progress. The defense is a work in progress, though. Washington allowed 6.1 yards per play through the first two weeks, and after three games the Commanders are giving up 30.7 points per game. The good news is that this week’s opponent has its own troubles, which should give the Washington Commanders players a better chance to control the game than they had against the Eagles or the Cowboys.
Indianapolis Colts: Searching for a Foothold After a Rough Start
The Colts’ story picks up right where the last one left off. In 2025 they raced to a 7-1 start under head coach Shane Steichen, then watched the season unravel after Jones tore his Achilles in Week 14. Indianapolis finished 8-9 for the second straight year and missed the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season. The losing carried into 2026. Before last Sunday, the Colts had dropped nine straight games, a skid that began in Week 12 of last season. Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard have been under scrutiny ever since.
The Indianapolis Colts quarterback rehabbed ahead of schedule and signed a contract extension, but the first three weeks of 2026 have been bumpy. In Week 1 the Colts lost 41-23 at home to the Baltimore Ravens, allowing 506 yards while managing only 251 of their own, and Jonathan Taylor called it “a wakeup call.” In Week 2 they pushed the Kansas City Chiefs to overtime on Sunday Night Football before falling 33-30, with Taylor running for 92 yards and two touchdowns before Pierce left in the first quarter with a heel injury.
Then came the breakthrough. In Week 3 Indianapolis beat Houston 19-17 at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts’ first victory since Week 10 of last season and the end of a five-game losing streak against the Texans, all five of which had been one-possession games. Jones went 24 of 36 for 235 yards, a touchdown and an interception, but he also fumbled three times, losing two, and was sacked four times. Four of Indianapolis’ five scoring drives ended in field goals. The Colts won despite a minus-three turnover margin and zero takeaways. According to NFL research, it was their first such win since Week 15 of 1999, against Washington.
What Makes Indianapolis’s Offense Tick
- Jonathan Taylor is the engine of the offense and one of the most productive backs in the league. He has been the bright spot even in the losses, with two touchdowns in the overtime defeat at Kansas City.
- Daniel Jones has been accurate, completing 24 of 36 passes against Houston, but the turnovers have overshadowed everything. He has three interceptions and two lost fumbles through three games, though he averaged 7.7 yards per attempt under pressure compared with 5.7 from a clean pocket.
- A reshuffled receiver room. Pierce, who led the league in yards per catch in each of the past two seasons, was placed on injured reserve after re-aggravating the same leg that required surgery in March. Reports say the team is hopeful he’ll miss four to six weeks. Against Houston, Josh Downs, Keenan Allen and tight end Tyler Warren combined for 30 of Jones’ 36 targets.
- A defense that showed life. After allowing an NFL-high 74 points in its first two games, Indianapolis held Houston to 17. The Colts also have seven sacks through three games, with DeForest Buckner anchoring the interior.
Indianapolis Colts Snapshot
| Detail | Indianapolis Colts |
| Division | AFC South |
| Head coach | Shane Steichen (4th season) |
| GM | Chris Ballard |
| Starting QB this week | Daniel Jones |
| 2025 record | 8-9 (missed playoffs for a fifth straight year) |
| Identity | Run-first offense built around Taylor, with a defense still finding itself |
| Recent form | 1-2 to start 2026; snapped a nine-game losing streak in Week 3 |
| 2026 season start | Lost to Baltimore 41-23 (Wk 1), lost at Kansas City 33-30 in OT (Wk 2), beat Houston 19-17 (Wk 3) |
Among all the Indianapolis Colts games so far, the Week 1 loss to the Ravens was the rough one and the win over Houston was the encouraging one, even if it wasn’t pretty. The Colts sit 1-2 in the AFC South, and a road win in London would go a long way toward calming a fan base that has watched nine straight losses turn into one narrow victory. The Indianapolis Colts players who need to step up are obvious: Jones must protect the football, and the receivers behind Pierce must find a way to stretch the field.
NFL Schedule This Week
Kickoff for Sunday’s Colts vs Commanders game is set for 9:30 a.m. ET at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, broadcast nationally on NFL Network. The Washington Commanders schedule takes an international turn for the second consecutive season, following last November’s 16-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid. That makes the Commanders the first team in franchise history to play international games in back-to-back years. Their only previous London trip was a 27-27 tie with the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium on October 30, 2016, the only tie in International Series history.
The Colts are no strangers to overseas football either. This is their second game in London, after facing Jacksonville at Wembley in 2016, and their third international game in four years, following Frankfurt in 2023 and Berlin in 2025. Officially, this counts as an away game for Indianapolis. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium holds 62,027 and features the world’s first dividing, retractable synthetic-turf pitch, built so it can flip between soccer and NFL games.
| Team | Next Matchup | Date | Location |
| Washington Commanders | vs. New York Giants (Wk 5) | Oct 11 | Home (Northwest Stadium) |
| Indianapolis Colts | at Pittsburgh Steelers (Wk 5) | Oct 11 | Away |
After the Giants, the Washington Commanders games on the calendar include a Monday-night trip to San Francisco on October 19 and then a Week 7 bye. The Colts follow their Steelers trip with a home game against the Tennessee Titans. Both teams will look back at this Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts result for very different reasons: Washington wants to prove the Seattle win was the start of something, and Indianapolis wants to prove that beating Houston was the turning point.
Head-to-Head History: The Full Timeline
This series dates back to 1953, when the Colts still called Baltimore home. The 2026 game will be the 33rd meeting between the franchises, and Indianapolis holds a healthy edge in the Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts all-time series, though the margin is narrower than it looks.
| Date | Winner | Location | Score | Notes |
| 10/30/2022 | Commanders | Indianapolis | 17-16 | Heinicke 1-yard TD run with 22 seconds left after an 89-yard drive |
| 09/16/2018 | Colts | Landover, MD | 21-9 | Luck throws two TDs; rookie Darius Leonard piles up 18 tackles |
| 11/30/2014 | Colts | Indianapolis | 49-27 | Andrew Luck throws five touchdown passes |
| 10/17/2010 | Colts | Landover, MD | 27-24 | Sunday Night Football; Joseph Addai rushes for 128 yards |
| 10/22/2006 | Colts | Indianapolis | 36-22 | Peyton Manning throws for 342 yards and four touchdowns |
| 10/27/2002 | Commanders | Landover, MD | 26-21 | Washington leads 20-0 and holds off a Manning comeback |
The Colts lead the all-time series 21-11 across 32 meetings, with the two most recent games splitting: a Colts win in 2018 followed by that dramatic Washington comeback in 2022. Most of Indianapolis’ cushion was built in the Baltimore years. Since the franchise moved to Indianapolis in 1984, the Colts hold only a 6-5 edge. That kind of back-and-forth has defined the modern version of this series, and there’s little reason to expect anything different on Sunday.
A Few Things Worth Pointing Out
- Zero playoff meetings between these two franchises across more than 70 years of history, which is part of why this matchup flies under the radar compared to more storied rivalries.
- This will be the first meeting ever played outside the United States.
- Washington’s last home win in the series came in 2002, and the Colts won both of the following games played in Landover, in 2010 and 2018.
- This is the first time these two franchises have met since October 2022, meaning four drafts’ worth of roster turnover has happened on both sides since the last kickoff.
Commanders vs Colts Name Game: Two Franchises Rooted in Reinvention
There’s a fun bit of Commanders vs Colts trivia buried in this matchup that has nothing to do with win-loss columns: both franchises have changed their identities along the way. The Colts began life in Baltimore before moving to Indianapolis in March 1984. The Commanders spent 2020 and 2021 as the Washington Football Team before adopting their current name in 2022. That means the most recent Commanders vs Colts game, in October 2022, was the first ever played under the Commanders name.
Three Eras of the Rivalry
Era 1: The Baltimore Years (1953-1983). Most of the games in the series were played when the Colts still called Baltimore home, and the Baltimore Colts built most of the cushion that Indianapolis still enjoys today.
Era 2: The Manning and Luck Years (1984-2018). After the move to Indianapolis, the series turned into a fairly even fight. Washington took the 2002 game, but the Colts took the marquee ones. The 2006 matchup was a showcase for Manning, who completed 25 of 35 passes for 342 yards and four touchdowns as Indianapolis moved to 6-0 on the way to a Super Bowl title. Luck followed with a five-touchdown day in 2014 and a 21-9 win in 2018.
Era 3: The Modern Matchups (2022-Present). The 2022 game was the first one played under the Commanders name, and it gave Washington its first win in the series since 2002. Sunday adds a new page to the Indianapolis Colts vs Washington Commanders story, with one side leaning on a veteran backup while its franchise quarterback recovers and the other trying to prove its own quarterback can protect the ball.
The Last Time These Two Teams Met: Commanders 17, Colts 16 (Oct. 30, 2022)
With Sunday’s game still to be played, the last actual Colts vs Commanders meeting remains the best snapshot available, and it’s one Washington fans remember fondly while Indianapolis fans still wince at the ending.
Indianapolis controlled long stretches at Lucas Oil Stadium. Chase McLaughlin’s third field goal of the day, a 20-yarder early in the fourth quarter, gave the Colts a 9-7 lead. Taylor Heinicke then threw an interception, and two plays later Nyheim Hines ran in from six yards to make it 16-7. Washington needed two touchdowns in the final five minutes, and Joey Slye’s 28-yard field goal cut the deficit to 16-10.
Then came the drive that mattered. With about two and a half minutes left, Heinicke led a nine-play, 89-yard march. He converted a crucial fourth-and-1 from his own 20 by buying time and hitting Curtis Samuel for 12 yards. Four plays later, McLaurin, playing his first professional game in his hometown, wrestled a pass away from former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore for a 33-yard gain to the 1-yard line. Heinicke plunged in on the next play with 22 seconds left, and Washington won 17-16.
Passing Leaders
- Taylor Heinicke (WAS): 23 of 31, 279 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Sam Ehlinger (IND): 201 yards, no touchdown passes, in the first start of his NFL career
Rushing Leaders
- Jonathan Taylor (IND): 16 carries, 76 yards, plus a red-zone fumble that likely cost the Colts points
- Nyheim Hines (IND): 6-yard touchdown run
- Taylor Heinicke (WAS): 1-yard game-winning touchdown run
Receiving Leaders
- Terry McLaurin (WAS): 6 catches, 113 yards
- Antonio Gibson (WAS): 7 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD
- Michael Pittman Jr. (IND): 7 catches, 53 yards
- Alec Pierce (IND): 3 catches, 65 yards
That win moved Washington to 4-4 and was its third straight victory, and it was the first loss for the Colts in five games against Washington. Four years later, McLaurin is still catching passes for the Commanders and Taylor is still carrying the Colts. Almost everyone else has changed, including the man who orchestrated that final drive. Don’t expect either side to forget how this series ended last time.
Where Both Teams Stand Entering Sunday’s Game
Three weeks into the season, the gap between these rosters looks smaller than the records might suggest. Both teams are 1-2, both have won exactly one game, and both are allowing roughly 30 points a game. Washington’s offense has been steadier than Indianapolis’, and the Colts have the edge in the trenches on the pass rush. Before the numbers below, it’s worth framing this Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts match player stats snapshot simply: turnovers and quarterback health are likely to decide it.
| Stat | Washington Commanders | Indianapolis Colts |
| Record | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Points Per Game | 25.0 | 24.0 |
| Yards Per Game | 314.0 | 293.3 |
| Points Allowed Per Game* | 30.7 | 30.3 |
| Starting QB turnovers | 0 INT (Mariota, 4 TD) | 3 INT, 2 lost fumbles (Jones) |
| Sacks Recorded | – | 7 |
| Current Betting Line | Commanders +3 | Colts -3 (-118) |
*Calculated from game scores: Washington allowed 24, 37 and 31 points; Indianapolis allowed 41, 33 and 17.
Washington vs Indianapolis Match Stats
Mariota’s numbers so far are the biggest swing factor in this Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts match player stats breakdown: 19 of 31 for 183 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in his one full start, on top of 111 yards and a touchdown in relief against Dallas. Jones, by contrast, has struggled to hold on to the football, even while completing better than two-thirds of his passes against Houston. If this Indianapolis Colts vs Washington Commanders match player stats trend holds, ball security could be the deciding factor in London. It’s worth noting that turnover margin has been a central theme in this series, as the Colts’ 1999 win over Washington with a similar margin reminds us.
The Washington Commanders players to watch are Mariota, McLaurin, White, Styles and Medrano. The Indianapolis Colts players to watch are Jones, Taylor, Warren, Downs and Buckner. Seven sacks in three games shows Indianapolis can get home against a Washington line dealing with injuries, while a Commanders front that allowed 6.1 yards per play through two games has to slow Taylor. And if Jones puts the ball in danger again, Medrano and Settle will punish him.
Coaching Matchup: Quinn vs. Steichen
Neither coach has an easy week. Quinn took Washington to the NFC Championship Game in 2024 and is now trying to keep a rebuilt team afloat after a franchise quarterback injury. Steichen, entering his fourth season, is trying to end a five-year playoff drought and quiet the questions that followed the Week 1 blowout.
| Factor | Washington (Quinn) | Indianapolis (Steichen) |
| Experience level | 3rd season with Washington | 4th season with Indianapolis |
| Quarterback situation | Marcus Mariota starting, Daniels’ status uncertain | Daniel Jones, back from Achilles tear |
| Offensive identity | Balanced, shaped by Daniels’ dual-threat ability | Run-first around Jonathan Taylor |
| Front office | GM Adam Peters | GM Chris Ballard |
| 2025 result | 5-12 | 8-9 |
| Program status | Rebuilt defense, fighting through injuries | Trying to end a five-year playoff drought |
Both men know their long-term standing hinges far more on process than on a single October result, but neither is going to say that publicly this week.
Betting Angle: What the Odds Say
The line for this Colts vs Commanders game has been remarkably stable. As of September 29, BetMGM listed Indianapolis as a 3-point favorite (-118), with the Colts at -175 on the moneyline and the total at 47 points. Reports indicated that the positive news on Daniels’ elbow hadn’t moved the number, which tells you oddsmakers still see Mariota as the likely starter and still view the game as close.
Neutral-site games strip out the usual home-field advantage, worth roughly two to three points, so a 3-point Colts line gives Indianapolis a true edge of about a field goal. International games also tend to see slightly higher penalty and turnover rates, which can push first-half totals lower. If Daniels is cleared, expect the line to tighten toward a pick’em. If Mariota starts again, the Colts stay small favorites.
Anyone leaning on Indianapolis Colts vs Washington Commanders match player stats before placing a bet should weight turnover margin heavily, given how differently Jones and Mariota have handled the ball so far.
Prediction: Both teams have real flaws, and both were desperate for last week’s wins. My projection is a close, turnover-driven game that Indianapolis edges, Colts 24, Commanders 20. Taylor’s ground game gives the Colts a dependable floor, but the Commanders’ takeaway ability and a possible Daniels return keep this well within one score. This is analysis, not betting advice, so check the final injury report before kickoff.
Where to Watch Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts
If you’re wondering where to watch Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts, here is the full breakdown.
- Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Kickoff: 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. BST / 7:00 p.m. IST
- Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
- National broadcast (U.S.): NFL Network
- Streaming (U.S.): NFL+
- Outside the U.S. and China: DAZN, for NFL Game Pass subscribers
- Washington’s local coverage: The Washington Commanders Radio Network, with BIG 100 (WBIG-FM) as the flagship station
- Highlights: NFL.com and the league’s social channels post recaps within minutes of the final whistle
That covers where to watch Colts vs Commanders whether you’re at home in the United States, in the UK or anywhere else in the world. Given how early this one kicks off for American viewers, replay and highlight packages will be popular.
What’s Next for Both Teams
Washington’s season now hinges on Daniels’ health and how Mariota manages the offense until the star returns. The Commanders host the New York Giants in Week 5, travel to San Francisco on October 19 and then get a Week 7 bye. A win in London would give them a 2-2 record and real momentum. Quinn said Daniels will travel and practice in some form, and keeping him off injured reserve suggests the team hopes to have him back within a few weeks.
Indianapolis’ goals are more immediate: prove the Houston win wasn’t a fluke, cut down the turnovers and find enough offense to survive without Pierce. The Colts head to Pittsburgh in Week 5, where they’ll see former receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and then host the Titans. A loss in London would leave Steichen and Ballard staring at a 1-3 hole, while a win would give the Colts their first winning streak since last season. Given how rarely these franchises share a field, highlights from this one will likely stick around fan feeds a little longer than a typical Week 4 game.
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Quick FAQs
Indianapolis, 21-11 across 32 meetings since 1953. Since the move from Baltimore in 1984, the Colts lead 6-5.
No. All 32 games have been regular season.
October 30, 2022. Washington won 17-16 on Taylor Heinicke’s 1-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds left.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, at 9:30 a.m. ET (2:30 p.m. BST) on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Washington is the designated home team.
Daniel Jones, back from a torn Achilles suffered in Week 14 of 2025. He has thrown three interceptions and lost two fumbles through three games.
No. Pierce was placed on injured reserve after re-injuring his heel in Week 2.
In the U.S., watch on NFL Network and NFL+. Outside the U.S. and China, NFL Game Pass subscribers can stream on DAZN.
As of September 29, BetMGM had the Colts -3 (-118), the moneyline at -175 and the total at 47. Lines can move.
Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts match player stats table above covers the key numbers, and will update after Sunday’s result on NFL.com and ESPN.
Source: ESPN
