Game context and basic details
The Indianapolis Colts (1-2) and Washington Commanders (1-2) meet in the NFL’s first London game of the season Sunday, with kickoff set for 9:30 a.m. ET. Both clubs enter the matchup coming off uneven starts and conspicuous defensive problems: through three weeks, each has surrendered more than 30 points per game.
Where the game will be won and lost
Washington’s biggest weakness has been against the pass: the team ranks No. 1 in run defense DVOA but No. 29 against the pass, leaving the secondary a clear target for opposing quarterbacks.
The Colts haven’t been much better on defense. Indianapolis gave up 41 points to the Baltimore Ravens and 33 to the Kansas City Chiefs before a tougher matchup against the Houston Texans pushed the offense into a lower-scoring outing. Those earlier totals underline why this game shapes up as a potential shootout.
The New York Post preview called this one a likely high-scoring affair, noting both teams’ defensive struggles and offensive firepower.
Matchups and players to monitor
On offense, the Colts have put up points in some games: with Daniel Jones at the helm, Indianapolis scored 23 against Baltimore and 30 against Kansas City before cooling off against Houston’s defense. The receiving corps has shuffled, and Josh Downs has emerged as a focal point — Downs has posted lines of 7/72 and 5/77 over the past two games and has seen nine and 11 targets, stepping into the WR1 role for Indy with Michael Pittman gone and Alec Pierce hurt.
Washington’s defense presents a contrast in strengths and weaknesses. The Commanders rank first in run-defense DVOA but are 29th against the pass, a split that invites play-calling designed to exploit the secondary. Washington has also given up the most fantasy points to wide receivers so far, allowing big receiving games to CeeDee Lamb (8/153/2), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (10/128/2) and DeVonta Smith (3/53).
Betting landscape and preview takes
History favors favorites in international games: removing the Jaguars from the sample, international favorites are 36-8 straight up (82%) and 29-15 against the spread (66%). One preview on Yahoo! News described Washington as overrated after a fluky home win over Seattle and suggested the Colts are the better team obscured by a brutal early schedule. That same preview framed Washington’s pass defense as especially exploitable and raised the question of whether the Commanders’ secondary can contain opposing receivers.
With both defenses vulnerable and several pass-catching matchups tilted toward the offense, expectation across previews is for a game that will produce notable fantasy and individual receiving performances. Josh Downs, in particular, figures to draw attention after his recent usage spike.
Sunday’s kickoff in London projects as another potentially high-scoring affair, given both teams’ defensive struggles and the offensive firepower each side has shown early in the season.
