Teddy Bridgewater Overcomes Shaky Start as Minnesota Vikings Shock Chicago Bears

Teddy Bridgewater was suffering through one of his worst days as the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback when the Chicago Bears took a 20-13 lead late in the fourth quarter on Sunday.

With the game suddenly on the line, something clicked for the sophomore quarterback. 

Bridgewater completed six of his final seven passes, including a 40-yard touchdown to rookie receiver Stefon Diggs to tie the game and a 35-yard connection with Charles Johnson to set up a game-winning field goal. Blair Walsh's 36-yard kick sailed through the uprights at Soldier Field, completing the shocking comeback and improving the Vikings' record to 5-2 in 2015.  

Bridgewater originally looked like he'd be the scapegoat for another Minnesota loss in Chicago. 

Before the Vikings' final two drives, Bridgewater had completed just 11 of 23 passes for 81 yards. He threw a bad interception late in the first half and misfired on at least two touchdown opportunities to receiver Mike Wallace. 

	Cmp/Att	Yards	TD/INT	MIN Points
First 8 drives	11/23	81	0/1	13
Final 2 drives	6/7	106	1/0	10

When Jay Cutler scrambled into the end zone with 4:55 left in the contest, it appeared as if the Bears were about to send Minnesota to its eighth straight loss at Soldier Field.  

A big shot to the sternum finally woke up Bridgewater. 

Bears linebacker Pernell McPhee punished Minnesota's quarterback on the Vikings' first play from scrimmage following Cutler's score. The sack left Bridgewater in obvious discomfort. More importantly, the Minnesota offense suddenly faced a 2nd-and-17 situation deep in its own territory and down seven points. 

On the next play, Bridgewater scrambled for 19 yards. First down. The comeback was officially on. 

After a short completion, Bridgewater hit Diggs under pressure for 20 yards and a first down. He found Diggs again three plays later, and the rookie receiver turned the third-down completion into a 40-yard, catch-and-run score. 

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

A game controlled by the Bears in the second half suddenly tilted. Minnesota forced a three-and-out on Chicago's ensuing possession, largely thanks to a big drop from rookie running back Jeremy Langford on third down. The Bears punted the ball back to the Vikings with exactly 60 seconds to go. 

A minute was plenty of time for Bridgewater. 

A play after Diggs picked up four yards on a quick screen, Bridgewater threw a prayer deep to his right. Receiver Charles Johnson—his favorite target to end last season and during this past preseason—leaped in front of safety Antrel Rolle and made the 35-yard reception. A potential giveaway transformed into the play that would win the game for the Vikings. 

After Adrian Peterson's nine-yard run, Walsh came on and put his game-winner right down the middle of the uprights for a 23-20 victory. The unbelievable comeback was complete. 

Once again: It's not how you start, it's how you finish. 

Up and down all afternoon, Bridgewater accounted for 124 yards on Minnesota's final two drives. He made the plays when his team absolutely needed them. He also got plenty of help. 

Diggs' 20-yard catch was misplayed by Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller, who probably could have intercepted the pass and returned the pick for a game-sealing touchdown. Instead, Diggs climbed the ladder, made the reception and burst forward for big yards. A few plays later, Diggs spun away from a tackle attempt and knifed through defenders to get into the end zone on the game-tying score. 

Langford's drop robbed Cutler and the Bears offense of a chance to march down the field and kick the game-winning field goal. The Chicago quarterback completed 22 passes for 211 yards, but he needed a 23rd connection to keep the Bears' final drive alive. 

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

A possession later, Bridgewater's heave to Johnson looked like a sure-fire interception. A turnover likely would have meant overtime. Johnson's ability to win position and high-point the football in front of the defender turned a questionable decision into a huge play. 

Just like that, the Vikings were leaving Chicago with their fifth win of the 2015 season. 

Bridgewater is still suffering through some of the bumps and bruises of a young quarterback. He was uncharacteristically inaccurate, especially on two plays in which Wallace had beaten the coverage and was open for a potential score. Also, Bridgewater's interception late in the second quarter shifted momentum, allowing the Bears to tie the game before the half. 

The young quarterback shook off the bad plays and buckled down when it mattered most. Sunday will serve as a learning experience for Bridgewater but also a confidence-building moment. Just when he looked knocked out, Bridgewater got to his feet and landed the decisive blows. His team won a game it probably didn't deserve to.

And in the end, that's all that really matters. 

Zach Kruse covers the Vikings for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2