Vikings offense has just enough success to survive

TAMPA – Teddy Bridgewater could laugh about it. Heck, the Vikings rookie quarterback even offered up a rare joke when asked about a dropped interception that could have, would have and probably should have turned all those purple-clad smiles to the more familiar upside down position.

"That's why they play defensive back," Bridgewater said after Buccaneers cornerback Johnthan Banks dropped a layup pass with 46 seconds left and the Vikings driving for the game-tying field goal during Sunday's 19-13 overtime victory at Raymond James Stadium.

Yeah, Bridgewater's first NFL road victory could have ended differently. Oppositely. But, hey, this is the NFL and, like Bridgewater said, it's not like the Vikings haven't served time on the other side of these kinds of fateful twists.

"Coach [Mike] Zimmer had a funny message [on Friday] about our bad luck running out, so we should have some good luck coming," Bridgewater said. "I think [Banks' drop] was some of our good luck right there."

Sunday's excitement was focused on some solid defense and especially linebacker Anthony Barr's great strip and fumble return for a touchdown in overtime. Beneath the surface were a lot of offensive players relieved that their meager 13 points were enough to not ruin the defensive performance.

"This can't continue," said fullback Jerome Felton, "because our defense is playing out of its mind."

The Vikings had 12 possessions, scored three times, punted eight times and a missed field goal. But the offense also had no turnovers, one sack allowed and just one penalty.

Running back Jerick McKinnon averaged 5.2 yards on 16 carries and Bridgewater posted an 81.5 passer rating with a career-high 24 completions. Receiver Cordarrelle Patterson had season highs for catches (six) and yards receiving (86), while tight end Chase Ford had career highs for catches (six) and yards receiving (61).

Ford played a significant role on the first scoring drive. Catches of 19 and 11 yards on consecutive plays put the Vikings in range for Blair Walsh's 46-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead as the first half expired. The 19-yarder came against a blitz and was thrown behind Ford on purpose because Bridgewater could sense the defender crowding the front of the route.

"I seen them blitzing, so I looked back to give Teddy a quick throw," Ford said. "After that, I saw the linebacker coming at me. Teddy and me just got on the same page at the right time. Great ball."

Bridgewater threw a better one on the next scoring drive. It was a 17-yarder thrown over two defenders into the end zone to Greg Jennings for a 10-0 lead midway through the third quarter.

"I beat my guy off the line, Teddy made a good throw and the offensive line gave him good protection," Jennings said. "That's what execution looks like."

That possession began four consecutive runs by McKinnon. He gained 8, 6 and then 28 yards to start the drive.

"That was the drive where we were saying on the sideline and in the huddle that, 'It's time to stop screwing around,'" Felton said. "Just put together some physical runs and open things up for that throw to Greg."

And since Banks dropped the interception, the final drive was remembered for Bridgewater's poise while going 5-for-8 for 54 yards, including a 12-yard pass to Ford that changed Walsh's field goal attempt from a 50-yarder to a 38-yarder.

"It made us even more confident," Walsh said "We're going to do our job from any distance, but 38 definitely makes it much more manageable for us to kick. Good job by the offense there."