Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has more wins than any of his 2014 position classmates combined and showed some of his promise by checking into a bubble screen that sealed Sunday's overtime win over the Jets.
In the face of Rex Ryan's zero blitz, Bridgewater called an 84-yard game-winning pass that sliced perfectly through the defense, giving him his fifth win under center.
Perhaps it was a bit of hyperbole, but after the game, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer sounded ready to hand the keys to Bridgewater for good.
"I think when Teddy decides to be the leader of the football team, because right now he's still feeling his way a little bit and his personality is just do what you do and do what you have to do," Zimmer said. "This franchise is Teddy's. I know that was a good headline for you."
Zimmer was right; saying that Bridgewater can lead the Vikings when he wants to makes for a great headline, especially when it seems like he's closer than ever to actually taking the reins.
A Ryan defense is a difficult puzzle for any quarterback to solve, and Bridgewater finished the game with a completion percentage in the 70s, a positive touchdown-to-interception ratio and more than 300 yards passing. Over the past two weeks, he is 34 of 48 for 447 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. That's good for a passer rating of 119.
Now, he has games at Detroit and Miami coming next. A continuation would establish Bridgewater as the franchise quarterback without Zimmer needing to say it.
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