Souhan: Bridgewater learns how little separates victory and defeat

DETROIT – Warren Buffett attended Ford Field on Sunday for what might have been his buddy Ndamukong Suh's last home game as a Lion.

The Vikings should have introduced Buffett to Teddy Bridgewater. The investor could have told the rookie that quarterback play in the NFL is like playing high-risk stocks: Your gains can be wiped out in an instant.

Bridgewater spent Sunday afternoon displaying poise and accuracy against an excellent defense in a noisy stadium. His progress was bankrupted by three bad throws.

After leading the Vikings to a 14-0 lead, he threw a second-quarter interception that led to the Lions' first touchdown. Receiver Charles Johnson got his feet tangled with a defender when he might have leaped for the ball.

On his next pass, Bridgewater had no excuse. He threw well behind Greg Jennings for his second interception in two passes. That led to a field goal.

With 45 seconds left in the game, the Vikings took the ball at their own 30, needing about 30 yards to set up a realistic field-goal attempt for the victory. On first down, Jarius Wright broke open toward the left sideline and Bridgewater overthrew him. Seven plays later, Blair Walsh's 68-yard field-goal try fell short, and the Vikings lost 16-14.

Without much high-end, healthy talent around him, Bridgewater completed 31 of 41 passes for 315 yards and a touchdown, and he ran three times for 30 yards.

"Obviously, we needed to avoid the turnovers," center John Sullivan said. "He knows that, the whole offense knows that, the whole team knows that. He did an incredible job making plays, throwing the ball down the field, getting explosives, getting the whole offense in rhythm, especially in the no-huddle. He played incredibly well. He was a great leader today."

NFL teams spent four of the first 36 picks in this year's draft on quarterbacks.

On Sunday, one looked like he was in the right place at the right time with the right team.

The woeful Jacksonville Jaguars selected Blake Bortles with the third pick. They are 2-12. Sunday, Bortles was sacked eight times and threw an interception, with no touchdowns.

The ever-hopeful Cleveland Browns chose Johnny Manziel with the 22nd pick. Sunday, he made his first NFL start, completing 10 of 18 passes for 80 yards with two interceptions, taking three sacks. He rushed five times for 13 yards, leaving him under 100 yards in total offense.

The aimless Raiders chose Derek Carr with the 36th pick. On Sunday, he threw 56 passes in a 31-13 loss, completing only 27, and taking four sacks.

Bortles, Manziel and Carr are all talented. At the moment, Bridgewater is the only one who looks like his learning curve is curving in the right direction.

Sunday, Bridgewater completed passes to nine receivers. Two — Jennings and Kyle Rudolph — are proven players. One, Johnson, is healthy and capable of scaring a defense. Bridgewater easily moved an offense that is the opposite of a fantasy team.

The last time Bridgewater faced the Lions, on Oct. 12, their pass rush threw him into a three-week slump. Sunday offered more proof that Bridgewater has not only emerged from that slump but also has learned from it.

"We let one slip away," Bridgewater said.

Bridgewater looks the part. Sunday, he came within one bad play of beating a good team, while separating himself from the rest of his quarterback class.

Jim Souhan's podcast can be heard at souhanunfiltered.com. On Twitter: @souhanstrib jsouhan@startribune.com