First off, sorry for the cliche in the headline. "Measuring stick" is an awful term, but it's short and sweet. When we use it, you know what we mean: this upcoming game for the Vikings against the Lions is an opportunity for the team and QB Teddy Bridgewater to chart their progression.
Why this game as opposed to others? Well, yes, in a sense this season every game is a "measuring stick" game for a team trying to carve out a new identity, with a new head coach, with a rookie quarterback and without the player around whom the offense was supposed to be built around.
But this one in particular stands out for a few reasons:
1) The first time the Vikings played the Lions, it represented the low-water mark for the offense in a season that hasn't exactly been crammed full of offensive highlights. Minnesota lost 17-3. Bridgewater was sacked eight times. He threw three interceptions, including a very bad throw early in the game in the red zone.
Now, some of this has to do with the Lions. The Vikings aren't the only team this season to struggle with moving the ball and scoring against Detroit. The Lions' front four is formidable, and the entire defense has allowed the second-fewest yards and fifth-lowest passer rating in the NFL this season.
The Vikings have shown marked progress on offense in recent weeks. Some inconsistency has still crept in, but overall this offense is functioning at a higher level than it was last time against Detroit. But it has also been feasting on some defenses much worse than the one the Lions will present. Hence, measuring stick game.
2) This is the first game in which Bridgewater will be facing an opponent for the second time. (The Vikings have also played Green Bay twice this season, but Christian Ponder started the first one). That means we'll get a look at how Bridgewater adapts to a team he has already seen — and how he adapts to that team adapting to him.
Playing QB at a high level is as much mental (if not more) as it is physical. No, we've never — as pal John Sharkman would say — played the game. But everything we've heard, read and seen would suggest that is true.
