Matt Ryan must protect the ball if Colts are going to turn things around
As the Indianapolis Colts try to turn their season around, veteran quarterback, Matt Ryan, has to do a better job of protecting the ball.
The Indianapolis Colts are currently 0-1-1 and they are in a tight game with the Kansas City Chiefs. As Kansas City leads 14-10 at halftime, the game could’ve been much different if Matt Ryan did a better job at protecting the football in the first half. Ryan didn’t have any interceptions but he did have two costly fumbles that led to scoring drives for the Chiefs.
The first came on a fourth down attempt when an unblocked Kansas City defender sack-stripped Ryan. The Colts were able to recover the fumble but since it was fourth down, Kansas City got the ball with even better field position than if Indy just failed to convert. Four plays later the Chiefs were stepping into the end zone for a touchdown.
The second fumble came late in the second quarter, as Ryan was trying to escape the pocket. Running with the ball in his hand as if he was still hoping to pass, Ryan was sacked from behind and fumbled the ball again. This time, the Chiefs did recover and they scored a touchdown just five plays later.
This could just be written off as a couple of bad plays in one game but that’s not the case because Ryan has unfortunately made this a habit in his first two and a half games with Indianapolis.
Colts can’t afford for Matt Ryan to keep fumbling
Including today, Matt Ryan has seven fumbles through 10 quarters this season. That’s simply unacceptable for a veteran quarterback in his 15th year. Ryan was brought to Indianapolis to be a veteran leader and an improvement at quarterback and that can’t be the case if he’s putting the ball on the ground.
The pass protection isn’t always the best and that’s unfortunate for Matt Ryan. However, getting sacked is much better for the team than getting sacked and stripped. This offense, and the team as a whole, is already struggling. Avoidable turnovers from the quarterback aren’t going to make things any easier.
