EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Beating the Washington Redskins 29-26 on Sunday sent the Minnesota Vikings into their bye week with a 4-5 record and their first winning streak since the end of the 2012 season.

But to be taken seriously as a playoff contender in a division ruled by the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford, the Vikings will need rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to improve the accuracy of his deep passes. Although the Vikings won on Sunday, Bridgewater helped make it closer than it should have been by going 0-for-4 in the first half on balls thrown at least 20 yards downfield. One of those was an overthrown ball to receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who didn’t have a defender within 20 yards of him.

“I think I’m good at throwing the deep ball,” Bridgewater said. “But that’s one of those plays where a guy is that wide open, just give him a ball that he can catch.”

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer doesn’t sound concerned. For now, he is content with a young quarterback with the resolve and the poise to bring his team from behind. Bridgewater brought the Vikings from behind three times on Sunday and has posted fourth-quarter comebacks in each of his first three NFL victories, which, by the way, is a record number of wins for a Vikings rookie quarterback.

As far as Zimmer is concerned, the deep-ball accuracy will work itself out. After Sunday’s 0-for-4 start on balls thrown 20 yards or farther, Bridgewater completed 4 of 5 on that distance, including two on the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.

“I honestly don’t believe that Teddy has a problem with the deep ball,” Zimmer said. “What I do believe is that we probably need to throw it some more and we will hit it. I do know one thing about Teddy, if it is a problem, that he will work extremely hard at whatever his deficiencies are. If he believes that’s one of them, I’m sure he will work at it.

“We’re going to continue to do it and continue to practice it. I thought it was important this week that we took some shots down the field and even if you don’t hit them, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. What’s the difference in just missing a 50-yard shot or you gain one yard? It’s 2nd-and-9 or 2nd-and-10, it’s the same deal. There is a lot of strategy involved with some of those things that we are doing.”

REPORT CARD VS. REDSKINS

PASSING OFFENSE: B – Teddy Bridgewater was awful on the deep ball in the first half, going 0 for 4 on throws of 20 yards or farther. The most aggravating miss came on an overthrow to Cordarrelle Patterson, who didn’t have a defender within 20 yards of him. Bridgewater rebounded on the deep ball, however, going 4 of 5 after the 0 for 4 start. The Vikings also gave up only two sacks and got tight end Chase Ford his first career touchdown following a takeaway from the defense. Bridgewater and Patterson remain on separate pages. Patterson caught only one of seven balls intended for him.

RUSHING OFFENSE: B — The Vikings had just 14 yards and no touchdowns on seven first-half carries. But the running game came around in the second half with 86 yards and three touchdowns on 20 second-half carries. Matt Asiata had three short-range touchdown runs in a game for the third time in his career.

PASS DEFENSE: B – It was an up-and-down performance. Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn’s second interception as a Viking set up the team’s first touchdown. And the pass rush produced five more sacks, giving it 20 in four games. But the team also struggled at times with penalties and an inability to run with DeSean Jackson. Jackson caught four balls for 120 yards, a touchdown and catches of 45 and 56 yards. The Vikings also had three penalties on third downs that allowed drives to continue and result in points.

RUSH DEFENSE: C – There were some highlights, such as Anthony Barr dropping Alfred Morris for a two-yard loss on second-and-1 from the Vikings’ 6-yard line. But Morris averaged 4.8 yards on 19 carries, giving him 92 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown in which nary a defender touched him. Morris also had a second touchdown.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C – The Vikings haven’t been at their best on special teams because of penalties and sloppy play. Punter Jeff Locke’s problems continued with a 40.5 average and a 37.0 net. On one key second-half punt, his weak punt went only 31 yards to midfield. Even the kickoff team, which rarely gets a workout because of Blair Walsh’s big leg, gave up a 45-yard return and two returns for an average of 32 yards.

COACHING: B – Coming back two weeks in a row to win in the fourth quarter this week and overtime last week shows a resolve that the coaches can lay claim to helping foster. Offensively, the players surpassed the total of 28 that coach Mike Zimmer set as their goal. Defensively, Zimmer’s double A-gap scheme continues to overwhelm and confuse offenses in passing situations. Also, the team heads into its bye week with its first winning streak in 25 games.