Interception a mistake Bridgewater can't afford

Packers free safety Micah Hyde was backpedaling like a punt returner with one thought on his mind when Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater wound up for the worst of his many poor first-half throws in Sunday's 24-21 loss at TCF Bank Stadium.

Actually, make that two thoughts.

A. "Do not drop the ball," Hyde said.

B. "There was no way he was going to throw this ball," he added. "And when Teddy Bridgewater did throw it, the ball felt like it was in the air for five seconds."

Consider it five teaching moments in the rookie quarterback's first game against the bullies of the NFC North. A bully that's not going anywhere anytime soon with Aaron Rodgers very much in his prime.

Hyde caught the ball and Rodgers turned it into a 53-yard touchdown drive by completing three of three passes for 47 yards, including an across-the-body, sideline-to-sideline throw that zipped about 40 yards in the air but goes in the books as a 1-yard touchdown pass.

The touchdown broke a 7-7 tie with 5 minutes, 23 seconds left in the first half. The Packers never trailed or were tied again, providing yet another example of just how slim the margin for error is when the Vikings play the efficient, high-scoring Packers.

The Vikings lost to the Packers for the ninth time in the past 11 meetings. But it was Bridgewater's first game against the Packers after missing the 42-10 debacle on Oct. 2 because of a sprained ankle.

Bridgewater looked nervous in the first half and admitted as much after the game when asked about his inaccuracy during yet another slow start.

"I was trying to get a feel for this rivalry," Bridgewater said. "Now, I know what it's about. I was just very excited about being able to play the Green Bay Packers for the first time. I just have to settle down and remain poised and let the game come to me."

Bridgewater completed only 11 of 22 first-half passes for 122 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In the second half, he completed 10 of 15 balls for 88 yards, one touchdown, a two-point conversion and no interceptions. Those second-half numbers also include a drop by wide-open receiver Charles Johnson at the Packers 8 on third-and-9 from the Green Bay 33.

"He seems to settle down in the second half," coach Mike Zimmer said. "Now, he got hit a bunch of times. We didn't protect him nearly well enough. … He continued to keep drives alive in the second half. But he needs to play better in the first half."