Without any surprise at all, Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has had his ups and downs this season and has actually looked like a rookie. Let’s be honest, though; that’s not a bad thing. It’s typically a normal occurrence.
The good news is that the 4-5 Vikings are still in the mix for a playoff spot as they prepare for a big divisional game against a reeling Chicago Bears team that has looked completely lost as their quarterback, Jay Cutler, fails to lead the way. If the Vikings are going to defeat their division foes, they’re going to need Bridgwater to step up and put together a good performance on the road in Chicago.
I believe he should be able to take advantage of Bears’ veteran cornerback Charles Tillman being done for the season. But he will still have to deal with star rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller, who already has three interceptions during his first nine NFL games.
One thing that will really aid Bridgewater this week is a productive running game that could take some pressure off of him. This will help him attack the Bears’ pass defense, which happens to be their weakest link this season.
Another thing to watch out for will be how the Bears’ defense handles Bridgewater’s ability to scramble. We saw San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick run all over Chicago earlier in the season. Bridgewater might be able to do the same thing.
Paul Jackiewicz is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Paul_Jackiewicz, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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