London Calling: Two Commanders to Look Out for Against the Colts

There is something rather special about watching the Washington Commanders play in London.

For those of us who have followed the team for years, the international games have produced some memorable moments, and Sunday's meeting with the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium provides another opportunity to add to that history.

Washington arrives in London having produced a dramatic 33–31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks last weekend, but there are some significant changes to the team heading into this one. Jayden Daniels remains sidelined, meaning Marcus Mariota will again take the majority of the snaps at quarterback, while Terry McLaurin is also unavailable.

McLaurin's absence is particularly significant. He has become the focal point of Washington's passing game and his ability to make contested catches, stretch a defence and create opportunities for others will be missed. It does, however, create an opportunity for someone else to step forward.

For me, there are two Commanders in particular who will be worth watching closely in London.

Stefon Diggs – Time to embrace the spotlight

Stefon Diggs has never been a player who has lacked confidence.

There is a certain flashiness to him, both in the way he plays and in the way he carries himself, but that should not obscure just how hard he works or the experience he brings to Washington's receiving corps.

With Terry McLaurin out, Diggs suddenly becomes even more important to this offence.

The timing is particularly interesting because Diggs and Marcus Mariota already have some chemistry. When Mariota replaced the injured Jayden Daniels against Dallas, one of his first significant contributions was a touchdown pass to Diggs. Mariota finished that game 11 of 16 for 111 yards and a touchdown, with Diggs on the receiving end of that score.

That connection could be particularly useful against Indianapolis.

McLaurin's absence means Washington loses not only his production but also the attention he demands from opposing defences. Diggs has the experience and route-running ability to take on a larger role, and he has the personality to embrace it. He is unlikely to be a receiver who quietly disappears into the game plan.

There is something rather appealing about that.

Diggs can be flash, certainly, but there is plenty of substance behind it. He competes, he works and he clearly believes he should be involved when the game is on the line. With McLaurin unavailable, Washington needs somebody who is prepared to demand the football and make things happen.

The Commanders do not need Diggs to become Terry McLaurin. They need him to be Stefon Diggs, with the added responsibility that comes from McLaurin being unavailable.

If Mariota can get him involved early, Diggs could become a major part of how Washington chooses to attack the Colts.

And, with a London crowd behind him, this feels like an opportunity for Diggs to put his stamp on the game.

Drew Stevens – Time to lay the Wembley ghost to rest

And then there is Drew Stevens.

There is, of course, a little bit of history behind Washington's return to London.

In 2016, the then-Washington Redskins played the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley in a game that somehow ended 27–27. It remains one of the strangest games in the history of the NFL's London series, and for Washington fans there is one particular moment that tends to stick in the memory.

In overtime, Washington had the chance to win the game with a 34-yard field goal. Dustin Hopkins initially put the kick through the uprights, only for Cincinnati to call timeout before the play. The kick had to be taken again, and on the second attempt Hopkins missed wide left. The game subsequently ended in a tie.

Drew Stevens obviously had absolutely nothing to do with what happened at Wembley in 2016. But that doesn't mean we can't give him the responsibility of finally erasing the ghost.

Stevens arrives in London having already shown both the promise and the occasional inconsistency you would expect from a rookie kicker. Through three games, he has made 5 of 7 field-goal attempts (71.4%), converted 6 of 8 extra points (75%) and scored 21 points. His long is an impressive 57 yards, which he hit against Seattle.

His game-by-game record tells a little more of the story: he went 1-for-2 on field goals against Philadelphia, 2-for-3 against Dallas and then a perfect 2-for-2 against Seattle. He also missed an extra point against both Philadelphia and Seattle.

So this is not a case of pretending that Stevens has arrived in the NFL as the finished article. He is a rookie still finding his feet, and there have been some bumps along the way.

But there have also been moments when Washington has needed him.

Against Seattle, Stevens converted a crucial 36-yard field goal in the fourth quarter before later showing his range with that 57-yarder. Those are the sort of kicks that build confidence, and now he gets the opportunity to play in front of what should be a very partisan London crowd.

There is something rather appealing about the possibility that this game could come down to a field goal. The circumstances are completely different, the stadium is different and the players are different, but the memory of 2016 is still there for those who remember it.

And if Washington finds itself with a kick to win the game in the closing seconds on Sunday, I know who I'll be hoping is standing on the field.

London has been waiting nearly ten years for this one. Time to exorcise the ghost!