The Washington Commanders rolled into their Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts brimming with confidence after upsetting the Seattle Seahawks. But this bubble quickly burst in typically depressing fashion.
Things got off to a rough start when veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota left the game with a knee injury. That left the Commanders relying on seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis, and the jitters were evident.
The Commanders slowly lost momentum as the game wore on. Countless other injuries and some very questionable officiating played a role in their demise, leaving head coach Dan Quinn's squad at 1-3 heading into a must-win game against the New York Giants in Week 5.
Everyone is a little deflated, and rightfully so. Quinn said the resolve in the locker room remains strong, but fans know talk is cheap as pressure builds.
With that in mind, here are three winners and five losers from Washington's defeat in London.
Winners and losers from the Washington Commanders' defeat to the Indianapolis Colts
Loser No. 1
Matt Gulbin - Commanders OL
The Commanders took a big risk here. Nick Allegretti's poor start to the campaign saw him benched, and sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin got his first professional start at right guard. It was a lot to ask, but the Michigan State product never truly looked comfortable.
Facing DeForest Buckner was a baptism by fire for Gulbin, and he struggled accordingly. The Colts targeted him as a weak link with great success, and though he flashed a couple of nice moments as the game wore on, it showed how much hard work is ahead.
Washington desperately needs Sam Cosmi back in the lineup. The prolific right guard has missed the last two games with a concussion and throat issue, and his absence is sorely felt. The Commanders opted to experiment with Gulbin over Allegretti, but this trend cannot continue for much longer.
Winner No. 1
Odafe Oweh - Commanders OLB
It wasn't all bad for the Commanders. If they hadn't endured so many rough injuries, the result might have been different. That wasn't the case, but edge rusher Odafe Oweh's performance offered reasons for encouragement.
Oweh was relentless coming off the edge throughout. He was constantly putting quarterback Daniel Jones under pressure, even forcing a fumble that he also recovered early in the contest. Things faded slightly as the game went into the second half, but the Commanders' defense was simply on the field for too long after the offense failed to get anything going.
Still, Oweh is off to a good start in Washington.
The Commanders are paying him to be a dominant presence, and he is starting to find his groove. Oweh looks more than capable of becoming a legitimate three-down force, and he's the perfect fit for Daronte Jones' aggressive scheme.
Hopefully, he avoids the injury bug hitting Washington. Oweh is quickly becoming indispensable.
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