Teddy Bridgewater ready to win with Adrian Peterson rolling

We all saw what Teddy Bridgewater could do with an effective running game in hand during the Week 2 victory for the Minnesota Vikings.

A week after coming out flat against the San Francisco 49ers, Bridgewater, running back Adrian Peterson, and the Minnesota Vikings put together an impressive outing. From start to finish, the Vikings looked far improved over the sloppy product in Week 1.

While we frequently look at a quarterback with under 200 yards passing as having a pedestrian day, we should not overlook what Teddy Bridgewater brings to the Vikings and how his skills complete a near-perfect equation for winning when coupled with Adrian Peterson’s ability at running back.

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

Efficiency is a word we often use to describe the second-year quarterback. He isn’t someone who is going to win you fantasy football matches by tossing it for 400+ yards and four touchdowns. He isn’t going to wow us all with multiple 40+ yard passes in a game. He will take his limited passing attempts, complete a ridiculously high percentage of them, and look sharp in doing so.

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For most teams that may not be enough. Many teams rely on their quarterback to not be a complementary part of the offense. Ben Roethlisberger is relied upon to pursue 5000 yards and he isn’t alone. Guys like Peyton Manning, Drew Bress, and Tom Brady have made careers out massive yardage in each and every game.

Guys like Teddy Bridgewater get overlooked as a result.

But they shouldn’t be.

Lost in this flashy, high-scoring orgy that the modern NFL has become is the need for an offense to be more than a pitch and catch game between top-flight wide receivers and big-armed quarterbacks. An offense is more than that.

Dec 1, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) rushes against the Chicago Bears for 5 yards in the first quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

A complete offense requires a strong running game. The Minnesota Vikings have been blessed to have arguably the best back of his generation running the ball for them since 2007. During that time he has rarely had a competent quarterback who can complete the offense around him.

Teddy Bridgewater is that player and he finally makes the Vikings offense truly dangerous for the first time in many years.

Bridgewater and Peterson are ready to win. We saw that when Peterson put up a nice 134 yard performance on 29 attempts (4.6 yards per carry) last Sunday. We see it when Bridgewater completes 14 of 18 passes for 183 yards and a score.

Call it efficient. Call it run-first. Call it anything you want. What we see with Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson is an approach that could lead one of the most complete, all-around offenses in the NFL for 2015.

Entering their Week 3 game against the San Diego Chargers, the Minnesota Vikings know they can rely on Peterson’s returned consistent running and they know that if they need to turn to Bridgewater’s arm, he’ll have the perfect complementary ability.

Next: Could Adrian Peterson make history?

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