The Vikings (8-3) host the 6-5 Seattle Seahawks, who are winners of 15 of their last 21 games, on Sunday.
Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater, 23, said Seattle's 27-year-old QB Russell Wilson has proven he's a winner in the NFL.
Like Bridgewater, Wilson was given the opportunity to start at the position in his rookie season and hasn't given up his job since. Russell has won 42 of his 59 regular season games as the Seahawks starting quarterback.
"The biggest thing that stands out about Russell is that he's a winner," Bridgewater said. "That's what everyone aims for in this position, you want to be a winner. He's been playing some great football; he's smart with the football, not turning it over."
With two Super Bowl appearances and one ring to his credit, the fourth-year pro has shown he is capable of making big plays and protecting the football. He has 90 career touchdown passes and 33 interceptions.
"He knows how to escape to keep plays alive when things break down," Bridgewater said. "I think that's some of the areas that we're similar, but I could continue to just get better. He's playing at a high level, it's obvious in his playing ability that they've been successful the last couple of years."
Here are four other points from Bridgewater's media session as he prepares to take on the Seattle Seahawks defense:
Bridgewater on the Seahawks defensive line:
"They have playmakers all across the board. Everyone thinks of the guys on the backend, but upfront, those guys, they've been getting to the quarterback. You put the tape on against Arizona, they were down and they got two sack fumbles for scores to put them back in the ballgame. It's just little things like that that you're aware of. You know that those guys come to play every week."
Bridgewater on Seahawks CB Richard Sherman
"We know that we are going to get his best. He's been playing some football ever since he's arrived in this league.
…and…
"You have to aware of where he is when he's out there, because he's a playmaker. Like I said, he understands routes, understands tendencies and things like that. We're going to put together a game plan that's just going to allow us to go out there and play within ourselves."
Bridgewater on Vikings WR Jarius Wright:
"We just put together game plans that allow different guys to make plays. Jarius has been doing a great job for us making plays on the third downs. He's always in the right place at the right time. That's what a quarterback asks for."
Bridgewater on comparing Atlanta's defense to Seattle:
The Vikings met the Seahawks former Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn in his first year as Atlanta's head coach in last week's 20-10 victory over the Falcons.
Bridgewater spoke about the similar defensive schemes:
"They're similar in schemes, but this Seattle team is much more talented we feel," Bridgewater said. "They have guys who have been playing together since last year; Super Bowl, eight returning starters. We're aware of those things, we know that they execute a little better than Atlanta did, it just shows that they're more comfortable running that scheme."
