Craig: Lions' pressure caught Bridgewater off-guard in first meeting

People seem to forget that Teddy Bridgewater's NFL starting debut wasn't against the Lions in Week 6. Otherwise, they wouldn't be asking people to explain how far he's progressed between that eight-sack, three-turnover game and Sunday's rematch in Detroit.

"Everybody wants to discount the Atlanta game," said Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner, referring to Bridgewater's starting debut in Week 4. "But I don't because he came in, we protected him well and guys got open. We had [558] yards and he played like [Aaron] Rodgers did against Atlanta the other night."

Bridgewater wasn't sacked while throwing for 317 yards in a 41-28 victory. He missed the Packers game the following Thursday because of an ankle sprain before returning for the Lions game.

"It was a complete different situation when he played against Detroit," Turner said. "And I think that he was caught off-guard a little bit at how good they were and how good the rush is."

The Vikings are 6-7 and improving. But they're 0-4 in the NFC North and also the only team in the league without a win against a team that currently has a winning record.

In other words, Detroit dictated how poorly Bridgewater and the Vikings played in Week 6. And when it comes to solving the challenges of turning this program around, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is Problem No. 1 while the physical dominance of the Lions' defensive line comes in at Problem No. 1A.

"For us to get to where we have to get to, we have to beat teams in our division," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "We have to get to their level at some point in time."

Only eight teams in NFL history have allowed fewer than 70 yards per game rushing over an entire season. The Lions' No. 1-ranked run defense weighs in at 62.8, which would shatter the team record of 82.3 set in 1970.

"Everything against Detroit starts with that defensive line," Vikings running back Ben Tate III said. "You have to block those guys, No. 1."

The Lions are 6-1 at home and in a playoff push that's making Ford Field unusually hostile and devoid of the usual paper bags over fans' heads. Again, it all starts with an intimidating run defense, led, naturally, by tackle Ndamukong Suh, who already has tied a career high with 17 tackles for loss.

In back-to-back 34-17 wins over Chicago and Tampa Bay, the Lions held the Bears and Bucs to a combined 39 yards rushing. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Detroit became the first team since the 2006 Vikings to hold back-to-back opponents to fewer than 40 yards rushing combined. In 2006, the Vikings held Miami and Atlanta to 24 combined rushing yards.

Unlike the 2006 Vikings, who ranked first in run defense (61.6) yet 14th in points allowed (20.4), this year's Lions team also ranks first in points allowed (17.2).

NFL Chatter

Mike Zimmer was used to tough divisions, coming from the AFC North, where the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals have been pounding on each other with some of the AFC's best and most physical teams in recent years.

But the former Bengals defensive coordinator and current Vikings coach is getting quite the painful introduction to the NFC North. He's 0-4 in the division and has lost games by 32, 14, eight and three points. The 14-point loss was a physical mismatch against the Lions at home. And the Lions controlled that low-scoring game without their best player, receiver Calvin Johnson.

Nine weeks later, Zimmer gets an up-close peek at "Megatron." Make that another peek.

"He made a great play against me a year ago, two great plays actually," Zimmer said. "He went up over three guys and caught a big pass."

"He's going to fight to get his way to get into the middle," Zimmer said. "He doesn't really care if he gets hit, I don't believe. If you don't have a lot of compete in you, then you're going to get embarrassed with this guy."

• The Broncos are the only team in the top five on offense (four) and defense (four).

• The Saints rank third in offense and 31st in defense. They're the only team in the top five on one side of the ball and the bottom five on the other.

• As wicked as Detroit's pass rush is, the Lions rank 13th in sacks per pass play, 10 spots lower than the Vikings.

• Johnny Manziel will run for two touchdowns while winning his NFL starting debut.

1 Tiebreaker in the East: Cowboys at Eagles

Philadelphia has a chance to sweep the season series and take a one-game lead in the NFC East with a victory, but Dallas has some extra rest after playing a Thursday night game.

2 West Coast wipeout? 49ers at Seahawks

San Francisco is in free fall, and this "rematch" of last year's NFC title game has all the makings of a rout by Seattle. Does that seal Jim Harbaugh's fate?

3 Giving Peyton a rest: Broncos at Chargers

4 Will lightning strike twice? Dolphins at Patriots

New England can clinch the AFC East with a victory, but the Dolphins are a desperate team that has already handed the Pats a loss.

5 Johnny Football's big chance: Bengals at Browns

Cleveland has rookie Johnny Manziel starting in its last-gasp chance to get back in the playoff hunt. The fans are ready, and members of the Cincy defense better be as well … to make the "money" sign when they sack him.

We've been watching a lot of Christmas shows and NFL games this season. But you know how busy life is. There isn't always enough time to get everything accomplished.

Here are some other possibilities after a week in which we climbed over .500 against the spread for the season. (Money won for this feat: $0):

MIN +7 at DET

Lions 21, Vikings 7

"You're a mean one, Mr. Suh. You really shouldn't break Teddy in two …"

OAK +10 at KC

"Three wise men appeared, each one of them saying, 'No way the Raiders win two in a row.' "

JAX +14 at BAL

Ravens by 10

"It's a Wonderful Life. Unless you're a Jags fan."

PIT -1½ at ATL

"The Grinch who Stole Someone Else's Playoff Spot: A look at the NFC South."

HOU +6½ at IND

Colts by 3

"It's a Wonderful Life II: How Peyton Manning breaking his neck the year before Andrew Luck left Stanford was a good thing."

CIN +1 at CLE

"Jingle bells, Hoyer smells, will Johnny lay an egg? …"

MIA +7½ at NE

Patriots by 10

"Frosty the Coach wasn't a particularly jolly soul, but the children knew how his defense came to life in 2014."

TB +3 at CAR

"Cam Newton got run over by a reindeer. Or was it a Buick?"

WAS +6½ at NYG

Giants by 7

"Daniel Snyder will be visited by ghosts from the past (Albert Haynesworth), present (RG III) and future (new nickname)."

NYJ -2 ½ at TEN

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love said thank goodness we don't live in these TV markets."

DEN -4 at SD

Broncos by 7

"On the fifth day of Christmas, Peyton Manning critics said, 'Wait a minute, why only one ring?' "

SF +10 at SEA

"Frosty the 49er: Behind the meltdown in Oakland."

DAL +3½ at PHI

Eagles by 7

"Frosty the Snowman no longer looks like Jason Garrett's annual record."

NO -3 at CHI

"Saints tied atop the NFC's Island of Misfit Toys Division."

GB -4½ at BUF

Bills 34, Packers 31

"Three wise men appeared again and said, 'Please tell us you're not picking Kyle Orton to beat Aaron Rodgers.' "

Record

vs. spread: 10-5/ 97-94

Vikings picks: 10-3