Minnesota Vikings: 5 players who must step up down the stretch

Nov 22, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) reacts after a sack during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Packers defeated the Vikings 30-15. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

5. Teddy Bridgewater

If you take away the seven screen passes he completed for 71 yards, Teddy Bridgewater against the Falcons completed 13-of-21 for 108 yards.

Kudos to the Vikings for executing those screens so well against Atlanta.

Kudos to Adrian Peterson for ripping the Falcons defense for 158 yards and two TDs.

Kudos to the Vikings defense for turning over Atlanta three times.

Winning by running, defense and screen passes is fantastic when it works. But it doesn’t always work.

When he’s been called upon to do more this year, Bridgewater has struggled. Yes he’s experienced some late-game heroics but for the most part, he has been a very average QB.

It will be fascinating to see what happens with Bridgewater if the Vikings do get into the playoffs. Will he be one of those players, like Eli Manning, who looks like nothing special until the real pressure kicks in?

Or will he wilt under true pressure like Andy Dalton?

So much is still unknown about Bridgewater, when you get right down to it. All I know is, I don’t think he’s had that good of a season overall.

I want to see a better-than-average Bridgewater the rest of the way.