Colts QB Matt Ryan scrambles back to form in second chance

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan kicked on the jets in his second stint this season as Indy's starter. 

The quarterback's 39-yard scramble late in the team's game against the Las Vegas Raiders helped set up a game-winning touchdown. It was the longest run in Ryan's career. 

Colts interim coach Jeff Saturday has caught a lot of flack for taking the job with no professional or collegiate coaching experience, but his decision to put the former Falcons quarterback back into the starting lineup paid off big time in Indy's 25-20 win over Las Vegas. 

Sunday's win illustrated much more of what the Colts envisioned when they traded for Ryan in March. He was characteristically efficient in the passing game (21 for 28 on passing with 222 yards and a touchdown).

Indy's run game helped set the tone for Ryan to be a field general, with running back Jonathan Taylor rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown. Ryan even rushed for another score on a separate play. 

The Colts offensive line kept Ryan relatively clean in the pocket, too, only giving up one sack to ace Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

Ryan getting benched for young quarterback Sam Ehlinger wound up backfiring on Indianapolis, but so far, going back to the potential Hall of Famer has paid off well. 

Colts guard Quentin Nelson said that, after observing the way Ryan took Ehlinger under his wing after being pulled from the starting lineup, it became even easier to play for the veteran quarterback.