PHILADELPHIA – Carson Wentz wasn't the vintage Wentz of last season, but he was good enough to lead the Eagles to a 20-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Wentz made his long-awaited return Sunday after missing 9 1/2 months for knee surgery.

And while Wentz started fast, throwing a touchdown pass on his first drive, it was clear that he was a bit rusty, especially in the third quarter when he threw an interception and lost a fumble, both giving the Colts a first down inside the Eagles' 20.

But in the end, Wentz led a game-winning, 17-play drive that consumed 11 minutes, 18 seconds; and Derek Barnett's sack with the Colts facing a fourth down just 4 yards away from the go-ahead touchdown with 1:35 left.

The Colts had one last chance but the Hail Mary pass was knocked down in the end zone as time expired.

In all, Wentz was 25 of 37 for 255 yards, and a touchdown and interception.

Wentz did this in a steady drizzle throughout most of the game, making the field somewhat soggy, not ideal for someone's first game after having two knee ligaments surgically repaired.

Wentz seemed a step slow from the player last year who was so adept at escaping pressure and finding open receivers.

Still, it was a significant step forward for Wentz and the hobbled Eagles' offense that played without top receiver Alshon Jeffery and running backs Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles.

Wentz was greeted with a loud ovation from the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field during the pregame introductions in his much-anticipated return. He then led a touchdown drive on the Eagles' first possession. He completed 5 of 7 passes for 55 yards on the drive.

The Eagles went into halftime leading the Indianapolis Colts 10-7 as Wentz was 14 of 20 for 165 yards for a touchdown.

It became apparent, however, that the Eagles were going to do everything they could to protect Wentz as much as possible. For most of the game, they had three tight ends and only one wide receiver in Nelson Agholor on the field.

Wentz completed each of his first eight passes to his tight ends – four to Zach Ertz, two each to Josh Perkins and Dallas Goedert, who caught a 13-yard touchdown.

It wasn't until the Eagles' second possession, late in the first quarter, before Wentz's knee was tested. On 2nd-and-7 from the Eagles's 45, Wentz faced pressure, ran to his right, then his left, then right again before hitting Goedert for six yards.

Three plays later, Wentz started running after getting pressure. He got back to the line of scrimmage before getting tackled.

Wentz's biggest pass of the first half came on a 34-yard completion to Wendell Smallwood, down to the Colts' 7, late in the first half. But the ball was a bit high, and Smallwood, wide open on the play, lost his footing after catching the ball.

The Eagles settled for a field goal for the first-half lead.

But the Colts started getting pressure on Wentz in the second half. He threw an interception to Anthony Walker early in the third quarter with the Colts taking over at the Eagles' 17.

The Eagles held Indianapolis to a field goal.

Later in the quarter, Wentz fumbled as he was hit by Margus Hunt. Hunt then recovered the fumble at the Eagles' 13.

Again, the defense held the Colts to a field goal, as the Eagles trailed 16-13 just 40 seconds into the fourth quarter.

This is when the Eagles methodically – to put it lightly – marched down the field. The Eagles were helped by four Colts's penalties, one a defensive holding when the Eagles faced 3rd-and-26, giving the Eagles an automatic first down.

Another defensive holding gave the Eagles a first down after Wentz had missed on 4th-and-5 from the Colts's 42.

But the Eagles kept driving and finally, Smallwood capped off the drive with a 4-yard TD run.

Then they held on for dear life as the Colts drove down to the Eagles's 4, where they faced 4th-and-3. That's when Luck was chased down by Barnett, who sacked him for a 16-yard loss.

The Eagles could finally exhale.