How Adrian Peterson Made Life Easier for Teddy Bridgewater in Vikings' Win

Adrian Peterson generated over 50 percent of the Minnesota Vikings' 350 total yards during Sunday's win over the Detroit Lions. 

He also made life much, much easier on young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. 

With Peterson chewing up yards left and right, the Vikings were finally able to utilize a play-action passing game. Minnesota also enjoyed a much-needed revival on third and fourth downs in large part due to more manageable down-and-distances provided by the running game. 

The result was a safe, efficient game for Bridgewater, who needed an adversity-free week after his disappointing 2015 debut in San Francisco.  

Peterson carried 29 times for the Vikings Sunday, gaining 134 yards and averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He came out of the gates running, with carries on Minnesota's first three plays and seven attempts for 45 yards on the opening touchdown drive. He finished the first quarter with 13 carries, tying his career high for one quarter. 

The Vikings kept on riding No. 28, giving him 31 total touches over Minnesota's 64-play game. 

	Week 1 at SF	Week 2 vs. DET
Play-action passing	6/11	6/7
Play-action YPA	5.7	12.3
Third downs	1/9	7/14
Peterson total yards	53	192

Meanwhile, Bridgewater made the plays when he needed to. 

He completed 14 of 18 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown. The surface numbers weren't off-the-charts great, but Bridgewater was undeniably good in a number of key situations. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Bridgewater completed six of his seven passes off play action. Those six completions netted 86 yards, good for an average of 12.3 yards per play-action pass. 

A week earlier, when Peterson rushed for just 31 yards, Bridgewater finished 6-of-11 passing on play action for 63 yards. 

Third down was just as important.

The Vikings finished 1-of-9 on the money down against the 49ers. Throw in two failed fourth-down conversions, and Minnesota managed just 54 plays and less than 27 minutes of possession. 

Sunday was a big step in the right direction. 

Bridgewater twice moved the sticks on third down on the Vikings' first possession, hitting Jarius Wright for 17 yards on 3rd-and-8 and scrambling for eight yards on 3rd-and-3. Minnesota finished at 50 percent on third down against the Lions, converting seven of 14 chances. 

"Our coaching staff did a great job this week preparing us for third downs. I think we were 50 percent today on third downs," Bridgewater said, via the team's official site. "Chances are, when you convert third downs, you're keeping drives alive and you're going to get points. That was an emphasis." 

Peterson certainly helped. 

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

In San Francisco, the Vikings faced five third downs of eight yards or longer to go. Minnesota turned the tables Sunday, creating eight different third-down opportunities at six yards or shorter. 

Bridgewater was dynamic on third down, converting his first two chances before making magic in the second quarter. On a 3rd-and-2, the Lions had Bridgewater dead to rights for a sack, but the second-year quarterback flipped to Peterson for 49 yards. The play set up a field goal. 

A quarter later, Bridgewater scrambled for a first down to move the sticks on a 3rd-and-6 play. The Vikings eventually marched down the field and scored a touchdown. 

His best throw of the afternoon came in the fourth quarter. After a Vikings interception, the Minnesota offense faced 3rd-and-8 in Detroit territory. Bridgewater delivered a dart to Mike Wallace, who picked up 11 yards and a first down. The Vikings would kick another field goal to go up 26-10. 

Overall, Bridgewater produced 132 total yards on third down, converting six third downs via his arm or legs. 

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Fourth down was also fruitful. In the first half, a run fake to Peterson allowed Bridgewater to walk into the end zone to put the Vikings up by two touchdowns early. 

No player benefited more from Peterson's return to greatness than Minnesota's young quarterback.

Thanks to a brilliant finish to last season and an offseason dripping with hype, many forget that Bridgewater was starting just his 14th game on Sunday. He still doesn't have a full season of work under his belt, making it necessary for his supporting cast—and Peterson, in particular—to give him help week in and week out. 

The Vikings hope that Bridgewater will be able to carry the offense with his right arm at some point. He's probably not there yet, and that's just fine. 

Minnesota has a dynamic running back capable of making life easier for the still-growing quarterback. 

Zach Kruse covers the Vikings for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2