Villaume: Turnovers Key to Sunday, Season

Quick name three surprise successful-start NFL team of the 2015 season.... Did you say the 4-0-0 Carolina Panthers, the 4-1-0 Arizona Cardinals and the 3-1-0 New York Jets?

If you did then you also named the three teams ranked best in turnover margin.

Actually, three of four, as the Denver Broncos are tied for second in positive turnover margin at +6. The Panthers lead the league with a +8 in four games. Cam Newton has only two interceptions, his defense has eight. That is how a team can be undefeated after four games with the 25th ranked offense.

Next on the list are New England and Green Bay at +5, and that explains why those two are better than good in 2015.

On the opposite end, Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Houston have the four worst +/- ratings. Their combined record this year is 6-14-0. And that is with the Colts having a winning record of 3-2-0. The Colts, a -7 on the season, are probably supposed to be a lot better than 3-2-0. Houston has the worst turnover margin ratio, at -8 in their first five games. That is how a 5th ranked offense can be on a 1-4-0 team. Or look at the winless Lions, who have Matthew Stafford throwing interceptions like free brochures outside a convention.

Turn to Teddy.

At times Bridgewater has looked bad. The passing game a challenge. The Hail Mary plays where Teddy could not seem to get the ball down the field. Throws behind receivers that looked very Christian Ponder like. Sailing throws. Even low throws.

But the biggest reason there is hope is because Mr. Bridgewater is protecting the football. The team as a whole has only four turnovers in four games. They have created eight on defense. Therefore, a team can have the league-leading rusher on it, yet be ranked 31st overall in offense and fans still love their quarterback. Not something that occurred even in 2012 Ponder-led playoff season.

Because Bridgewater is not throwing interceptions, his passer rating is decent. At 84.5 Teddy is only a few points behind his opponent on Sunday, Alex Smith (88.1) of Kansas City. Another important factor is avoidance of sacks. Teddy has been sacked 13 times in four games, while Smith has surrendered 21 sacks in five games. Considering the struggles of the Minnesota blockers (including tight ends and running backs) that number could be much higher for the Vikings. Teddy has escaped pressure without making too many costly mistakes.

And that is what gives him a fan base.

This game versus the Kansas City Chiefs is one that appears to be a lock. Jamal Charles, the elite running back who is one of a very short list of running backs who average more yards per carry in their career than Adrian Peterson, is out for the season. His replacements, Knile Davis and Charcandrick West, are not going to remind anyone of Charles, despite what television announcers may suggest.

Meanwhile, Teddy Bridgewater is 5-0-0 in his last five home starts. That has a nice ring to it, and another solid way to get the fan base behind you: win at home.

If Minnesota is to get to 3-2-0 on Sunday they will have to win the turnover battle. We are not a Colts or an Eagles type team that can lose that battle yet win the war with so much offense. As the 31st ranked offense we must win the turnover war.

Minnesota's defense is averaging two turnovers a game. Anthony Barr co-leads the team in tackles and has been directly involved in two turnovers. Likewise Harrison Smith. These two have been the catalysts for a defense that has begun to get opportunistic. If Minnesota can get just a little more of a pass rush going, and someone to join Everson Griffen (3.0 sacks) in getting to the quarterback, the turnover margin might get even better.

A Charles-less Chiefs are not very scary. But neither was a 1-4 Saints team until last night. Or a Panthers team in 2015 until they exploited their positive turnover margin.

And so we ask Teddy to keep on doing what he is doing... it is good enough.