Minnesota Vikings: 4 steps to beating the Falcons
By Luke Sims
3) Protect Teddy Bridgewater
Perhaps nothing was more impressive in the loss to the Green Bay Packers than Teddy Bridgewater managing a decent outing despite being constantly harassed by the Packers’ defensive front.
Sacked six times and having players in his face through the entire game, Bridgewater still managed to complete 25 of his 37 passes for 296 yards and a score.
In my mind, Bridgewater proved he is more than a game manager in that game. He proved that he was capable of producing top-level offense even without a run game and without capable protection up front.
The Minnesota Vikings still fell short in that game, though.
Offenses that can’t keep their quarterback upright will not regularly see performances like Bridgewater’s last week. They also won’t regularly win games.
The Vikings are taking sacks on almost 10 percent of Bridgewater’s dropbacks (9.3 percent per Pro Football Reference), allowing their quarterback to be battered again and again and again. If the Vikings can’t protect Bridgewater, then they likely won’t beat the Atlanta Falcons and it doesn’t bode well for the run-up to the playoffs either.
Something needs to change for the Vikes’ offensive line and making a statement against the Falcons would go far.