Sauce Gardner has finally broken a 651‑day drought without an NFL win on American soil, and now the Indianapolis Colts’ cornerback is back on the international stage. The Colts secured their first triumph of the 2025‑26 campaign in Week Three, edging the Houston Texans 19‑17. Prior to that victory, Gardner’s most recent U.S. win dated back to December 15, 2024, when he was still wearing a New York Jets jersey.
The Indianapolis franchise acquired Gardner in a November 2025 trade. After the move, his sole win for the Colts came in the Berlin game against the Atlanta Falcons, a high‑profile contest that highlighted the league’s growing global footprint. Unfortunately, the momentum didn’t last, and Indianapolis stumbled through the final seven weeks of the season, losing each game. Now, the team is back in Europe for the Week Four showdown against the Washington Commanders at London’s iconic Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a fixture that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports NFL.
Gardner reflected on his unusual season, saying to Sky Sports, "I was joking with Josh Downs about how bizarre it would be to lose a game in the States, then win abroad, only to lose again back home. It was a real headache for me." He added, "I’ve always loved playing internationally, especially in London. The city holds a special place in my heart. The atmosphere here is electric—fans are incredibly passionate, and the noise in the stadium is unlike anything you hear in the U.S." The NFL’s 2026 calendar is packed with transatlantic and inter‑continental matchups.
In addition to the Colts‑Commanders clash, the schedule lists games such as the Detroit Lions at the Carolina Panthers, the Kansas City Chiefs at the Las Vegas Raiders, and a marquee duel between the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles, where Darius Cooper made a spectacular touchdown catch over a defender. All of these contests are slated for UK prime‑time slots, with the postseason and Super Bowl LXI also being streamed for British audiences. A particularly poignant storyline emerges from Indianapolis offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann.
In 2013, Raimann attended his first live NFL game as a teenage fan at Wembley Stadium. The Austrian-born athlete now returns to the same venue as a professional, marveling at how far his journey has taken him. "Back then I was just playing soccer and a bit of football. We traveled with my club team, and I was a kid dreaming about the NFL.
The players on the field seemed like superheroes. Watching a live game felt like the closest I’d ever get to those heroes," Raimann told reporters. "Now, standing on that field as a player, it’s surreal. I hope kids see my story and realize that their own dreams are possible if they work hard every day." The league’s push for global expansion is evident.
This October marks the first of three consecutive London games, part of a record‑setting nine‑game international slate that also includes inaugural matchups in Melbourne, Australia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has repeatedly voiced a goal of scheduling sixteen international games each season, underscoring the league’s ambition to become a truly worldwide sport.
Colts safety Cam Bynum expressed his enthusiasm for overseas travel, saying, "If I could play abroad every week, I would love that. The only downside is missing my regular routine—my acupuncture sessions, my massage therapists, the whole body‑work schedule I’ve built in Indianapolis. When you’re on a plane for six hours, you lose sleep, and you have to adapt quickly. Both teams face those challenges, so it evens out in the end." Despite logistical hurdles, many players embrace the chance to showcase their talents beyond U.S.
borders. Running back Jonathan Taylor, who entered the season as the league’s leading rusher with 1,585 yards and 18 touchdowns, is a major draw for the London crowd.
Taylor reminisced about his high‑school days, "We used to have a Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving. The biggest crowd I ever played in front of was about a thousand people.
From that small field to Wisconsin, then Indianapolis, and now an international stage—it's an incredible feeling. I never take it for granted." The Washington Commanders arrive in London fresh off an upset victory over the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks. Quarterback Marcus Mariota is slated to start again, replacing the injured Jayden Daniels. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who was listed as questionable on Friday due to a hamstring concern, remains a key target, while Stefon Diggs brings his renowned route‑running and reliable hands to the mix.
Gardner offered his perspective on the Commanders’ weapons: "McLaurin is a speedster—he can explode off the line. Diggs isn’t as fast, but his football IQ is elite. He creates separation and has great hands." Head coach Shane Steichen’s team, which began the season 0‑2 after losses to the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, finally snapped the skid with a win last weekend. Gardner noted the psychological impact of that victory: "A win changes everything.
Going from 0‑3 to 1‑2 feels like a whole new energy. We lost a close game to the Chiefs, but it showed us we can compete.
Now we have to keep that momentum and win the next one." Fans can follow the entire 2026 NFL season, including playoffs and Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, via Sky Sports. The network also offers streaming options through NOW with no‑contract plans, ensuring that viewers in the UK and Ireland can stay connected to every snap, tackle, and touchdown, no matter where the action takes place.