Colts vs. Commanders brings about many tough challenges for the Indianapolis Colts. After their gritty win over their division rivals, the Houston Texans, anything is possible.
How exactly did the Colts find a way? One of the biggest factors was their kicker, Spencer Shrader. He went 4-for-4 on kicks against the Texans. His 58-yard field goal and game-winning 53-yard field goal were his most notable kicks of the day.
Shrader suffered a groin injury during pregame warmups. He fought through the pain and became the undeniable MVP of the game against the Texans. If he continues to be this consistent, Indianapolis should remain close in games when clutch kicks are needed.
Spencer Shrader wasn’t the only factor in the Colts’ win this past Sunday. The defense played a major role, too. After a historically horrendous start, Indianapolis held Houston to 223 total yards, including 153 passing yards and 70 rushing yards.
The Colts also shut down C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ offense for the better part of the day. Everything from the tackling to the defensive coverage was working in tandem with one another. However, the Colts cannot rely on one side of the ball to carry them.
Indianapolis needs its offense and defense to work collectively. The team must remain consistent throughout the entire game, not just in sections. Because when they do, this team is deadly.
If the Colts are going to go on a run after a hard-fought victory, they need to beat the Washington Commanders in London. That win could be important for their division and playoff hopes.
The Colts need to make Marcus Mariota force throws into coverage. That alone gives the Indianapolis secondary a chance to record its first interception of the season.
The longer Washington is forced into obvious passing situations, the more opportunities Indianapolis will have. That could allow the pass rush to create problems. If the Colts can make Mariota uncomfortable early, they can force him into difficult decisions. That could put the defense in a position to control the game.
It starts with stopping Washington’s run game. The Colts need to force the Commanders to become one-dimensional. Indianapolis’ defensive work does not stop there. They need to bottle up Mariota in the pocket and get pressure.
The DeForest Buckner-Adetomiwa Adebawore combo worked well last Sunday. The two combined for two sacks on C.J. Stroud. Getting both players involved early could create the necessary palpable uncertainty for Washington’s offense. The Commanders will be playing without their starting quarterback.
If Indianapolis can consistently collapse the pocket, it can force Mariota to make quicker decisions. That puts more pressure on Washington’s offense to make plays. That is exactly the type of situation the Colts’ defense needs to create in London.
Sunday is about more than just the defense. For the offense, this needs to be a good day for Jones. Beyond simply relying on Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis needs to create more explosive opportunities for its receiving corps.
This could come from Darius Slayton getting his first snaps as a Colt in London. It could also mean creating more space for Josh Downs. They also need to get Keenan Allen and Laquon Treadwell involved. Both players made important plays against the Texans and Chiefs.
Jones does not need to throw for 350 yards. He does not need a three-touchdown game, either. What Jones does need is to protect the football. He also needs to make the throws that keep the offense moving. The formula does not have to be complicated. Pass to score, run to win, and most importantly, make the most of the opportunities that come their way.
The Commanders have proven to be an incredibly tough team to keep down for the bulk of any game, with the Commanders beating the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks in a 33-31 thriller. That should tell the Colts everything they need to know.
Washington is not going to simply lay down because Indianapolis is coming off a win. If anything, this is another opportunity to prove Houston was not a fluke.
The Colts have already experienced what happens when mistakes pile up. Now, they have an opportunity to show what happens when they play complementary football. They also need to take advantage of their opportunities. Most importantly, they need to find a way.
London is not going to be easy. The Commanders are not going to be easy. After everything Indianapolis has already been through this season, this is exactly the type of game where that “find a way” mentality needs to show up again. One gritty win is encouraging. Getting another one is how you start building something.
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