Getty Matt Ryan #2 of the Indianapolis Colts.
Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was unbenched on Sunday, November 13 after Indianapolis Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday made the call to start Ryan over Sam Ehlingher against the Las Vegas Raiders.
It ended up working out in Indy’s favor as Ryan led the Colts to their first win in three weeks, beating the Raiders 25-20 in Week 10.
Ryan finished the day completing 21-of-28 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a score.
The 37-year-old QB even showed off his speed, scrambling for a career-long 39 yards, which sparked a lot of conversation on Twitter.
Matt Ryan 39-yard run? Matt Ryan 39-yard run! @M_Ryan02
📺: #INDvsLV on CBS
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How Jeff Saturday Made the Decision to Start Ryan
Indianapolis initially made the move to bench Ryan ahead of their Week 8 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Aside from Ryan’s decline in production, his shoulder injury also played a larger role in the team’s decision, and according to many reports, owner Jim Irsay helped with the final call.
Frank Reich says he and Chris Ballard had a long conversation with Jim Irsay last night. Stopped short of saying it was Irsay’s decision, but Irsay has been increasingly involved behind the scenes of late.
At the time, Ryan, a former MVP quarterback, led the NFL in interceptions thrown (9) and fumbles (11).
After benching Ryan and three straight losses, the club shook up the coaching staff, firing head coach Frank Reich on Monday, November 6 and hiring Saturday as a short-term replacement.
Saturday, a former Colt himself and a good friend of Irsay, was handed the keys to make the big decisions, including adding Ryan to the active roster.
Starting Ryan wasn’t his initial instinct when he got to Indy, but after he saw Ryan throw and how he led practice leading up to Week 10, he knew he was their guy.
“I evaluate all the time. I tell those guys, this is not a closed competition by any stretch of the imagination,” Saturday told reporters following Sunday’s victory. “I’m going to put the best 11 on it. So whatever we can do to win games, that’s what we’ll do. Both have had great weeks of practice. Sam, for a young guy, is an energetic guy. He brings a lot of pop. Matt, getting out there too, I was impressed. He was out there throwing it around.”
Whether or not the Colts stick it out with Ryan for the next seven games remains to be seen. Either way, Saturday is in charge.
“It’ll be up to me who starts at quarterback,” he said.
Ryan Is a Believer in Saturday
Contrary to what critics think and are saying about Saturday, Ryan is a big believer in him and what he brings to the Colts as an interim coach.
In fact, Saturday addressed the elephant in the room of what people were saying about him when he first showed up in Indianapolis.
“He was the one that brought it up, and I think that really helped,” Ryan said postgame. “I thought he did a great job at the beginning of the week of addressing the situation, understanding it’s completely unprecedented, completely unique, and was very clear about how he was going to try to go about it and very clear about what he expected from the guys.”
Saturday, who was once a player himself and shared the same field as Ryan, is now his coach. But the two have nothing but respect for one another.
“I’ve known Jeff, I think I played with him in the Pro Bowl maybe in 2010, which is funny,” Ryan said. “I always remember, being from Georgia, family from Georgia, he was like, ‘Can I get your helmet?’ And I was like, What? Jeff Saturday? Because I was a Peyton fan.”
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