Vikings coach Mike Zimmer called quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s performance in Monday night’s loss to the 49ers a “clunker” and said he was surprised to see the quarterback lacking the composure he’s come to expect.
Bridgewater didn’t disagree with his coach when he met with the media on Wednesday. Bridgewater said that he was “in a hurry” on Monday night and that he allowed himself to get too caught up in playing in the nationally televised capper to the first week of the NFL season.
“You have to be prepared to play in prime time,” Bridgewater said, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I think I was too excited to play, and it showed. Put it in the past and learn from it. ... I tell myself, ‘Hey, I can’t do the same thing that I did last week or we’re going to be sitting at home 0-2.’”
Bridgewater said he likes that the team will have a quick turnaround to face the Lions on Sunday in a game that both teams need to put in the win column. Only five of the 66 teams starting 0-2 since 2007 have rebounded to make it to the playoffs, which will leave one of the NFC North teams with steep odds to overcome after the end of Sunday’s game.