The Indianapolis Colts arrive in London aiming to build on their first win of the season as they face the Washington Commanders in Week 4. NFL experts are largely siding with the Colts to edge a tight contest, though opinions differ on how the game will unfold.
USA Today’s panel split their votes 2-1 in favor of the Commanders, but Adam Kaufman favours the Colts. He points to Washington’s strength against the run, which has contained backs like Saquon Barkley and Javonte Williams, as a challenge for Jonathan Taylor. Still, Kaufman thinks the Commanders’ vulnerability in the passing game gives Daniel Jones an opportunity to move the offense, even without wide receiver Alec Pierce. Washington’s quarterback situation remains uncertain, with Marcus Mariota expected to start again after an impressive performance against Seattle, while Jayden Daniels is set to practice this week and could influence the final lineup.
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco expects a high-scoring thriller, predicting a 31-30 victory for the Colts. Prisco notes that both teams earned their first wins last week, with the Colts showing defensive improvement and the Commanders making impactful plays on defense. He believes both offenses will produce points but sees the Colts pulling ahead late.
NFL.com’s experts lean heavily towards Indianapolis, awarding them four out of five votes. Jeremy Bergman, the lone voice for Washington, highlights the Commanders’ strong run defense, ranked third in the NFL through three weeks, as a major hurdle for Taylor, who has yet to break 100 yards this season despite his past international success in Berlin. Bergman also points to Washington’s careful ball control, with just one giveaway all year, contrasting with the Colts’ defense, which has struggled in yards and points allowed and has only one takeaway. He suggests both teams are improving after early struggles but feels Washington is in a better position despite the uncertainty at quarterback due to Jayden Daniels’ elbow injury.
ESPN’s experts uniformly pick the Colts, with their Football Power Index giving Indianapolis a 55% chance of winning. The model reflects a consensus that the Colts have the upper hand heading into the London game.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio goes against the grain, backing the Commanders to win 24-20. He credits Washington’s upset over the defending Super Bowl champions, Seattle, to Mariota’s strong showing, which he believes will keep Daniels sidelined until the veteran cools off. Florio also points out that the Colts’ recent win came against the struggling Houston Texans, suggesting their momentum might be less convincing.
The Colts’ quest to build momentum in an international setting faces a test against a Commanders defense that has improved notably in run stopping and ball security. Meanwhile, the quarterback situation in Washington remains a storyline to watch, with Mariota’s performance against Seattle raising questions about whether Daniels will take over in London.
The latest from practice reports indicates Jayden Daniels is expected to participate, but whether he will start remains unconfirmed as the Week 4 clash approaches.
According to Yahoo Sports.
