Teddy Bridgewater vs Colin Kaepernick: Week 1 QB duel

Quarterback battles are one of the best things about the modern NFL era. Teddy Bridgewater has his work cut out for him on Monday night against Colin Kaepernick to start the season.

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While the quarterbacks never actually line up against each other in an era of specialized positions, no players are more heavily evaluated against each other than quarterbacks.

ALSO ON SPIN ZONE: Where does Teddy Bridgewater rank among QBs?

Whether a QB can throw in tighter windows, measuring arm strength, the ability to scramble compared to being a pocket passer, the intangibles like leadership, no matter what it is, the media tries to boil it down to its essence to determine which quarterback is better than another. We don’t really know until the end of the season, however, and the win/loss column can be added up.

All that matters in the NFL is winning.

Before each game, however, comparing quarterbacks persists. Getting to the essence of what makes a quarterback like Teddy Bridgewater or Colin Kaepernick better than the other. What gives them an edge for their team?

Like running backs, wide receivers, and even some defensive players but on a larger scale, this head-to-head comparison of quarterbacks is an appealing matchup for fans to examine.

For Week 1, fans of the NFL are able to compare and contrast two of the best up-and-coming quarterbacks in the NFL.

September 3, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warms up before a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi

Bridgewater and Kaepernick are very different quarterbacks. While Bridgewater is just getting his feet wet in the NFL, it’s already clear that he is a more classic passer than compared to Kaepernick. Kaepernick’s experience in big games and relative success is invaluable but has been the result of innovative play, relying more on his athleticism.

Unlike baseball, we can’t simply dive into measurable moments for each player. The quarterback position is too dynamic for that. But the statistics these two quarterbacks have put up can give us an indication of how they may perform in their Week 1 duel.

Colin Kaepernick has averaged a 60.1% completion percentage in his four-season NFL career, putting up 7.5 yards per attempt and 175 yards per game. He tosses touchdowns on 4.5% of his throws. Kaepernick also keeps the ball safe, throwing interceptions on just 1.9% of his attempts.

These may seem like pedestrian numbers among NFL quarterbacks, but in the end the victories are what matter and Kaepernick has delivered 25 wins to just 14 losses at this point in his career.

Meanwhile, Teddy Bridgewater’s one (incomplete) season saw him complete 64.4% of his passes, posting 7.3 yards per attempt and 224 yards per game. He tosses TDs on 3.5% of his passes and throwing interceptions on 3% of his attempts.

Bridgewater, like Kaepernick, hasn’t had to be the most prolific quarterback in the world with a strong running game and defense. He delivered six wins and six losses in his rookie starts.

Sep 7, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up before the game between the St. Louis Rams and the Minnesota Vikings at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

These two quarterbacks seem similar at first glance, statistically. But if I’m a betting man I would be looking for Bridgewater to put together the more complete game. He has a slightly higher interception rate, though it was his rookie season. His completion percentage as a rookie was better than any season for Kaepernick. Bridgewater throws touchdowns at a similar rate and has a similar yards per attempt.

Bridgewater is on the rise as a quarterback and his preseason play has shown that he is not going to slow down for the 2015 season. The sky is literally the limit and he is expected to be an accurate, efficient quarterback through his second season.

This QB battle may not prove to be much of a duel with Bridgewater’s ability to complete a higher percentage of passes and rely on a team that has not suffered the widespread attrition that Kaepernick’s 49ers have.

It will be exciting to see two of the best young quarterbacks compared through the first week of the 2015 season, but in this case I think Teddy Bridgewater will show that he can be something more than Colin Kaepernick.

Next: 5 Keys for Vikings Against 49ers

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