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Steichen credits Colts’ stops, Quinn explains fourth-down call

Shane Steichen credited Indianapolis’ defensive stops in a 30–13 win. Dan Quinn explained Washington’s fourth-and-one decision and missed chances after takeaways.

By The Sporting Page Editorial StaffTSP Original
Washington player in a burgundy number 13 uniform on the field in London
A Washington player on the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the October 4 game against Indianapolis. · Credit: Washington Commanders

“I got to do a better job calling plays. We got to do a better job executing,” Shane Steichen said after the Colts’ 30–13 win over the Commanders in London on Sunday.

Steichen was answering a question about Indianapolis’ slow first quarter. Washington’s first two scoring drives ended with field goals, giving the Commanders a 6–0 lead.

Asked about the importance of keeping Washington out of the end zone on those possessions, Steichen said the deficit “could be 14 nothing. Instead it’s six nothing.”

The Colts also stopped Craig Reynolds on fourth-and-one at Washington’s 46 in the second quarter after a Daniel Jones interception. Indianapolis then drove for Jonathan Taylor’s first touchdown and a 7–6 lead.

Washington coach Dan Quinn pointed to the field goals after the early takeaways, saying “those were ones that we needed to nail.”

Asked about going for fourth-and-one at his own 46 with rookie Athan Kaliakmanis at quarterback, Quinn said he trusted his team to gain less than a yard. “I don’t want to overthink it just based on the result,” he said.

Read the final recap, score and preserved game updates.

Sources and notes

  1. Shane Steichen: the complete available captions for the Colts’ 7:49 team-posted postgame availability were reviewed October 4. The source covers approximately 00:00–07:47.77; it does not establish that an unedited full press conference was posted. https://www.colts.com/video/shane-steichen-colts-vs-commanders-postgame
  2. Dan Quinn: the complete available 11:48 official Commanders audio was transcribed locally and the complete machine-generated transcript was reviewed at 5:27 p.m. Mountain Time. Selected passages covering the early takeaways and fourth-down questions were transcribed again and checked at 5:29 p.m. Mountain Time. This is a machine-generated transcript, not an official written transcript or independent human listening review. Unclear words and unrelated segments were omitted. https://www.commanders.com/audio/hc-dan-quinn-october-4-2026-press-pass-washington-commanders-nfl
  3. Game facts: ESPN’s final 30–13 record, checked at 5:05 p.m. Mountain Time, and the Colts’ official recap. https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401872965/colts-commanders
  4. Photograph: the Commanders’ October 4 Colts event gallery, image 2 of 65, verified at 4:32 p.m. Mountain Time. https://www.commanders.com/photos/photos-commanders-vs-colts-week-4