The NFL rolls into the United Kingdom this Sunday as the London Games begin with a clash between the Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Ahead of the game, ESPN asked Colts reporter Stephen Holder and Commanders reporter John Keim to assess their respective teams, the players UK fans should watch and where Sunday's matchup could be won and lost...
How would you sum up the season so far?
SH: It's been a bit of a struggle. The Colts' early-season schedule was not favourable and that resulted in two consecutive losses to the Ravens and Chiefs to begin the season. Last Sunday's win against the Texans was much needed, but the Colts' offense is feeling the loss of star receiver Alec Pierce, who will be out of the lineup for at least several weeks with a heel injury. There are also questions about the Colts' defense, which was embarrassed in its first two games.
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JK: Injury filled. Again. Washington was devastated by injuries in 2025 and it was one reason the team stumbled to a 5-12 season. Already this year, they will have played two games with seven players projected as starters when camp opened. All but one -- left tackle Laremy Tunsil -- are expected back soon. Considering that, they're fortunate to be 1-2 after opening at Philadelphia, at Dallas and then home vs. Seattle. The Commanders are without their top players at: quarterback, left tackle, cornerback, linebacker, safety and tight end. They're forced to use a linebacker who was fifth on the depth chart entering the season (Kain Medrano).
What's the biggest thing we've learned about this team that we didn't know coming into the season?
SH: It's taking longer than hoped for some of the new additions on defense to make an impact. The Colts changed five of their 11 starting players on defense this season, and that has proven to be a difficult transition. Whether it all works as designed is still an open question as we are just three games into the season.
JK: Their run defense is excellent. Washington had hoped it would improve in this area, but that was the case each of the last two years as well but it never materialised. From 2024-25, the Commanders ranked 30th in rushing yards allowed and 26th in yards per carry. But the defensive line -- Javon Kinlaw, Tim Settle and Daron Payne -- has been excellent and the linebackers speed has been a big factor as well. Odafe Oweh earned a big contract because he can rush the passer, but he's been terrific at setting the edge.
What's the mood around the team about travelling to London?
SH: The Colts are treating this like most any other game. Spirits are good because they won their last game, their first win this season. But the Colts have been adamant about their policy of traveling late in the week for their European games, as they have done in each of their three trips to the continent. The Colts' plan was to fly Thursday night and arrive in London on Friday morning. They will then eat, relax and get acclimated before holding a short practice on Friday afternoon.
JK: Upbeat. However, while they were pleased with the win over Seattle, the players and coach Dan Quinn emphasised that it was just one game and that they had areas to correct -- if they want to build on the win. So while the win over Seattle made the flight to London much better, they did not view it as "we've arrived" but want to use it as a steppingstone, as quarterback Marcus Mariota said. And that's why numerous players harped on what they could do better to make sure one win leads to another.
Who's been the standout player so far -- and who should UK fans watch out for?
SH: Running back Jonathan Taylor has picked up where he left off last season, when he was one of the top runners in the NFL. But he will draw more attention from defenses in the coming weeks because the absence of Pierce allows opponents to focus more on run defense. Washington has found success defending runners in the past two games, so it will be interesting to see which team wins in this particular subplot.
JK: Rookie linebacker Sonny Styles. He's far from a finished product, but the seventh overall pick already has made an impact. With Frankie Luvu sidelined, he's responsible for relaying the plays into the huddle and he's adept at communicating before the snap as well. He already has an interception and a forced fumble as well as a sack. He accomplished something no other rookie has done for Washington: record an interception, a forced fumble and multiple passes defensed in the same game. His speed has made a big difference in coverage and his ability to chase ballcarriers. He'll have to develop coming downhill and taking on blockers, but for now he's playing fast enough -- and the line is helping enough -- to avoid them.
What's the biggest concern around the team heading into this game?
SH: The Colts were yielding a historic amount of yardage in their first two games, leaving them statistically as the worst defense in the NFL. The 417.3 yards per game the Colts are allowing, on average, from opponents is well below the NFL average of 329.5. While the Colts made noticeable strides in their win against Houston last Sunday, it remains to seen whether they can sustain that momentum.
JK: Health. But we already covered that above. Their depth will continue to be tested until more starters return over the next couple weeks. That's obvious so let's take a look at something else: the pass coverage. Indianapolis does not have a dynamic passing attack -- quarterback Daniel Jones ranks 18th in number of pass attempts of 15 air yards or more and only has a 56.6 passer rating on such throws. But the Commanders' weakness has been coverage; they've allowed the sixth most passing yards and the second most passing touchdowns.
Where do you think Sunday's game will be won and lost?
SH: Neither defensive unit in this game has shown itself to be reliably good. Each is yielding more than 30 points per game. What this game likely will hinge on is the respective quarterbacks' ability to exploit the opposing defense. Jones has a slight edge in this area in my mind.
JK: I'll say the ground game. The Colts have two outstanding corners in Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward to contend with Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs. But they rank 28th in yards per carry allowed. The Commanders have remained devoted to running -- with the fourth most attempts despite being only 16th in yards per carry. But they will stick with it, using both Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White. If Washington's defense has been excellent vs. the run, with 27 of 64 carries going for two yards or less -- but if the Commanders continue stopping the run they must have better lane discipline when rushing Jones.
Who wins and why?
SH: I'm picking the Colts by a slim margin. My rationale: If the Colts star cornerbacks Gardner and Ward can limit Washington's receivers -- the Colts believe them to be the strength of their team -- it will position the Colts to prevail. But that's a matchup Indianapolis has to win to get the victory.
JK: I was afraid you'd ask this question. This is a toss-up game; two 1-2 teams who faced a tough early schedule. I'll go with Washington and the ability to control the ground game; the key will be whether they can limit explosive pass plays. Mariota showed a tonne of poise and calmness in the pocket last week. This is a massive game for Washington: Can it build off a terrific win? We'll bet that they will, but the confidence isn't high because of their health and the teams are fairly equal.
