Teddy Bridgewater Finds Stride as Saints Win Third Straight
Teddy Bridgewater Finds Stride as Saints Win Third Straight
Teddy Bridgewater has been gaining confidence each week since he replaced the injured Drew Brees. The New Orleans backup quarterback is now 3-0 since taking over at the position, and the Saints are leading the NFC South division with a 4-1 record.
Neither of Bridgewater’s prior two performances compared to the dominant game he put together on Sunday against division rival Tampa Bay, where he threw for 314 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in a 31-24 win.
I’ll admit that I was a little bit critical of Bridgewater’s play in his first start. Much of the Saints’ game plan after losing Brees seemed to revolve around getting the ball into running back Alvin Kamara’s hands as much as possible. The result was a barrage of creative running plays and short passes to the back. Naturally, Bridgewater failed to show off much ability to pick apart a secondary with accurate throws past the first down marker. As a matter of fact, Bridgewater had not completed a 30-yard pass through his three games of action leading up to Sunday.
That all changed against a weak Tampa Bay secondary. On the Saints’ second possession, Bridgewater linked up with Michael Thomas on a 34-yard completion near the left sideline. That drive resulted in a Saints field goal. Bridgewater started the game hot, completing six of eight pass attempts for 67 yards. His ninth attempt was picked off by Bucs cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. The pass didn’t necessarily hit intended target Kamara in stride, although it was a catch that he should have been able to make. Instead, the ball bounced off his hands and into the grasp of Murphy-Bunting. I find it hard to blame the quarterback for the turnover.
Bridgewater commandeered a nearly perfect game other than that play. The Saints next offensive possession was nine-play, 75-yard crusade that was capped off by a 14-yard passing touchdown to Michael Thomas.
Bridgewater looked like a man determined to exploit the second-worst pass defense in the NFL. While the check-down passes were still utilized, Bridgewater looked poised on his long passes this week. He finished the game 3-3 on attempts that traveled over 20 yards through the air, including this dime to Ted Ginn Jr.
Bridgewater came up with big plays in the areas where it matters the most. He completed three red-zone touchdown passes, and maintained his composure from his own endzone on this third quarter connection to Michael Thomas. The showing was good enough to draw cheers of “Teddy! Teddy! Teddy!” from the Superdome crowd.
Sunday was the first time in Bridgewater’s career that he threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns in the same game. The last time he accomplished either feat was in 2015 as a Minnesota Viking.
Bridgewater was quick to spread the credit for the offense’s stellar performance in his postgame press conference.
“It was a great overall team effort. I feel like I have the easy job,” Bridgewater said in reference to being supported by weapons like Thomas, Kamara, and tight end Jared Cook. And he makes a good point. Michael Thomas put up major numbers with a ridiculous 182 yards and two touchdowns on eleven receptions.
But don’t sell yourself short, Teddy, you looked like a force to be reckoned with out there.
The Saints will look to extend their win streak on the road against the Gardner Minshew-led Jaguars next week.
-By: Jonny Hart