Colts Survive Ugly Start in London; Buckner's Neck Surgery Gamble Pays Off Against Commanders

The Colts improved to 2-2 on Sunday in London, downing the Commanders 30-13 in a slugfest that exposed as much weakness as it demonstrated recovery. After stumbling 0-2, Indianapolis has now won consecutive games, but the path to each victory has been littered with costly mistakes and offensive stagnation. QB Daniel Jones has been responsible for five turnovers over the past two games—three against Houston, two against Washington—while the Colts' passing attack has struggled to generate explosive plays regardless of opponent quality.

What makes the Colts' situation analytically curious is the asymmetry between their defensive output and offensive burden. The defense has improved markedly in back-to-back weeks, but neither Houston nor Washington featured the kind of schematic sophistication or personnel weapons that would truly test an NFL secondary. The Colts are borrowing wins against limited opposition, and that's a real constraint on confidence. A matchup with Pittsburgh next Sunday will immediately reveal whether this is trajectory or smoke.

The singular bright spot was DeForest Buckner's performance. At 32 years old and recently returned from delicate neck surgery—a procedure that typically demands extended recovery timelines—Buckner was disruptive throughout. He pressured Commanders quarterbacks, stuffed the run game, and was particularly effective pursuing scramble plays. His consistent hand placement at the line of scrimmage disrupted Washington's timing repeatedly. The fact that a defensive tackle of his age could return to this level of play so quickly after such a sensitive surgery suggests either exceptional rehabilitation or remarkable good fortune with healing.

From a prop angle, the Colts' offensive inconsistency creates a clear path for unders on their team totals. Jones's turnover rate (5 in 2 games since returning to .500) is unsustainable, yes, but the underlying issue is structural: he's operating in an offense that isn't generating consistent yardage or efficiency. Over the past two weeks, the Colts have averaged 285 total yards per game against defenses that rank outside the top 10 in efficiency. Pittsburgh's defense is substantially more formidable. Expect the Colts to accumulate fewer yards and points next Sunday. The market has likely adjusted upward on the back of two wins, creating a window to fade team totals before books properly regrade the quality of opposition faced. Buckner's edge-rush pressure may create negative plays more often than explosive downfield gains for Indianapolis.