Colts Pull Off Improbable Win in Interim Head Coach's Debut

The Indianapolis Colts capped one of the craziest weeks in the history of their franchise with a wild win on Sunday, topping the Las Vegas Raiders 25-20 in interim head coach Jeff Saturday's first week on the job. Quarterback Matt Ryan also made a shocking return to starting duties, finishing a solid day with an exhilarating game-winning drive that earned the Colts their fourth win of the season.

Parris in Las Vegas! @PCampbell21

📺: #INDvsLV on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/BOnQEreYOl pic.twitter.com/XaX0yGEIbK
— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2022

The Colts had restated their commitment to quarterback Sam Ehlinger as the starter as recently as this week, so Ryan's presence under center to open the game came as a huge shock. He turned in maybe his best game of a tumultuous season, netting 208 passing yards on 29 dropbacks and avoiding the costly turnovers that had become his signature this year.

Ryan was benched after a 3-3-1 start that included nine interceptions and a baffling 11 fumbles, but Ehlinger clearly showed himself the inferior option over his two starts. He was particularly helpless last week in a 26-3 loss to the New England Patriots, absorbing nine sacks and netting only 43 passing yards on 38 dropbacks.

For at least a week, Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday has silenced his critics. But Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels has only empowered his. Now at 2-7, his team's season seems all but lost. The Raiders previously expressed that the coach's place on the team was secure. But as Sam Ehlinger can attest, a lot can change after an ugly game.