Commanders lacked discipline, and it cost them
Given how depleted the Washington Commanders were, they could have done without shooting themselves in the foot. However, their lack of discipline was an ongoing frustration, leading to several penalties at key moments.
Cornerback Amik Robertson was flagged for a harsh unnecessary roughness penalty when the defense was ready to get off the field. Special teams committed frustrating infringements, turning good field position into not-so-good.
If that wasn't bad enough, rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams' long touchdown catch-and-run was brought back for two penalties on the same play, which would have given the Commanders a chance to tie things up.
Just unacceptable, unsound football. And not for the first time this season, Washington's complete lack of discipline cost them in a big way.
Commanders defense did everything they could
Daronte Jones' defense struggled to maintain its fast start when the offense was getting almost nothing. They were on the field a lot, and it became a difficult burden to bear.
The Colts wore them down eventually. The injuries didn't help, of course. But even though they tried valiantly on defense, it wasn't quite enough for the Commanders to stay competitive.
They can't do it all. The guys in the trenches need rest, and the more reps they got, the slower everything looked. But with a third-string rookie quarterback under center, the Commanders were fighting a losing battle from the moment Marcus Mariota left the game.
Things should be easier for the defense next week if Jayden Daniels is back. And they have flashed enough promise through four games to be competitive.
Another outstanding day from Amik Robertson
The result may not have gone Washington's way, but veteran cornerback Amik Robertson delivered another strong performance. He was assured in coverage, made his tackles count, and is quickly becoming a driving force within a secondary going through its fair share of issues right now.
Robertson's effort is exceptional. He never backs down, and confidence is clearly oozing from the Louisiana Tech product. This sort of attitude is infectious, and he is well on his way to becoming one of the offseason's biggest steals.
Indianapolis' pressure eventually told, but when the dust settles, Robertson can look back on his performance with a real sense of pride again.
Commanders are now teetering before crucial Week 5 contest
The Commanders are getting dealt a bad hand right now, but the NFL is a cutthroat world. In the end, nobody cares, and head coach Dan Quinn needs to suck it up and try to salvage something from the campaign.
Easier said than done. But if the Commanders cannot beat the New York Giants next weekend at Northwest Stadium, the pressure will only build.
Injuries are only an excuse for so long. It's a legitimate reason why the Commanders are struggling, but this is a results business. And this is another result that got away from Washington when a win was expected.
This could be one of the most important weeks of Quinn's tenure. And he will be praying for a bit of luck to smile on him.
That would make a nice change.
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