Sauce Gardner finally broke a 651‑day drought without an NFL victory on American soil, and now the Indianapolis Colts' standout cornerback is set to step back onto foreign turf. The Colts secured their inaugural win of the season in Week Three, edging the Houston Texans 19‑17, a game that marked Gardner's first triumph in the United States since December 15, 2024, when he was still a member of the New York Jets. Gardner’s journey to Indianapolis began with a November 2025 trade, and his solitary win after the move came in a high‑profile contest against the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin.
Unfortunately, the Colts then stumbled, dropping their final seven games of that campaign. This week, however, the team is back in Europe, traveling to London’s iconic Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take on the Washington Commanders in a matchup that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports NFL. Reflecting on the oddity of his recent experiences, Gardner told Sky Sports, “I was joking with Josh Downs about how we could lose a game at home, then win abroad, and lose again back in the States. It was a weird mix of emotions.” He added that playing internationally, especially in London, holds a special place in his heart.
“The atmosphere here is electric, the fans are amazing, and the city just feels like a second home for the league.” The London stop is part of a broader NFL push to globalise the sport. The 2026 schedule features a record nine international games, including inaugural contests in Melbourne, Australia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Commissioner Roger Goodell has repeatedly hinted at a long‑term goal of staging 16 games outside the United States each season, underscoring the league’s commitment to expanding its fanbase worldwide. Colts safety Cam Bynum expressed his enthusiasm for the travel, saying, “If I could play overseas every week, I would.” Yet he also highlighted the logistical challenges that come with crossing time zones.
Bynum explained that his carefully calibrated routine—acupuncture on Thursdays, a specific massage therapist on Fridays—gets disrupted by long flights and limited sleep. “The plane ride gave me only six hours of rest, but both teams have to deal with that, so it levels the playing field,” he noted. Among the players making a personal pilgrimage to London is offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann. The Austrian native first attended an NFL game at Wembley as a teenager in 2013, watching the sport as a curious kid.
Now, as a professional on the field, Raimann described the experience as “unbelievable,” recalling how the players seemed like superheroes to his younger self. He hopes his presence will inspire other young athletes, saying, “If kids see my story, they might realize that their dreams are possible and keep working toward them.” The Colts will also rely on the firepower of running back Jonathan Taylor, who entered the season leading the league with 18 rushing touchdowns and 1,585 yards on the ground.
Taylor reminisced about his high‑school “Turkey Bowl” games, recalling a senior‑year crowd of a thousand spectators as the largest he’d ever played before. From those modest beginnings to the University of Wisconsin, then Indianapolis, and now an international stage, Taylor described the journey as “the most amazing feeling in the world” and emphasized that he never takes it for granted. Washington arrives in London fresh off a surprising victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Quarterback Marcus Mariota is slated to start after Jayden Daniels was ruled out with injury.
Gardner praised the Commanders’ receiving corps, noting, “Terry McLaurin is incredibly fast and explosive, while Stefon Diggs may not have McLaurin’s speed, he’s smart, has great hands, and can create separation.” McLaurin, however, was listed as questionable on Friday due to a hamstring concern. Head coach Shane Steichen’s team has already turned the tide after starting the season 0‑2 with losses to the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.
Gardner commented on the psychological boost that a win can provide: “Going from 0‑3 to 1‑2 changes the energy completely. We came close against the Chiefs; we didn’t win, but the narrow margin showed we could compete. Now we have to seize this opportunity.” The London game is the first of three consecutive NFL fixtures in the city scheduled for October, part of a broader strategy to cement the league’s presence in the United Kingdom. Fans can catch the action live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available through NOW without a contract.
The NFL’s global expansion continues to gain momentum, and players like Sauce Gardner, Bernhard Raimann, and Jonathan Taylor are at the forefront of bringing American football to new audiences while navigating the unique challenges of international travel, time‑zone adjustments, and maintaining peak performance. Overall, the Colts’ London appearance not only offers a chance to break a prolonged winless streak on home soil but also serves as a showcase for the NFL’s ambition to become a truly worldwide sport. Whether it’s the electric roar of the Tottenham crowd, the personal stories of players returning to a city that once inspired them, or the strategic importance of each game in a season that now spans continents, the London matchup promises excitement, drama, and a glimpse into the future of football on the global stage.