Coach Mike Zimmer clearly is content with the way Matt Cassel is playing, saying, "I hope Matt continues to do what he's been doing."

As for Teddy Bridgewater, Zimmer is practicing patience.

"He's got so much going on in his mind right now that I just want him to play," Zimmer said. "That's what I told him [Wednesday], and that's what I'm going to tell him before the ballgame. Just go play. You've been doing this since you were 5 years old. Go play and have some fun. Throw the ball in there. If you make a mistake, we'll fix it and go on."

Apparently, Bridgewater has bought in.

"Basically, I have to stop overthinking," he said. "I haven't been pressing, but I have been overthinking."