DETROIT -- This is why the Minnesota Vikings worked so hard to bring Adrian Peterson back, when it might have been more convenient just to deal the running back during the draft when the relationship between the two sides was still frosty.

This is what they envisioned their offense becoming with Peterson and Teddy Bridgewater in the same backfield, and this is why they might have the makings of a playoff team if they can keep it all together.

Peterson wasn't at his best on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Far from it. He gained 98 yards on 19 carries, but 75 of those came on one run. Peterson spent much of the day searching for room, but finding none, behind a beleaguered offensive line that allowed the running back to get hit within a yard of the line of scrimmage on 15 carries, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

With the Lions defense focused on Adrian Peterson, Teddy Bridgewater was able to pick apart the Detroit secondary. Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire

But as the Lions sold out to stop the run, firing many of the same run blitzes the Vikings saw last week against Kansas City, and expected to see again, the Vikings took advantage. Over and over again, Bridgewater faked a handoff to Peterson, who dutifully pantomimed he had the ball in his hands and crashed into the line. And over and over again, he found room to throw downfield.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Bridgewater threw for a career high 142 yards on play-action passes, hitting eight of his nine attempts with a QB Rating of 99.8 on such throws (also a career high). Seven of those nine throws were at least 10 yards downfield, and three of the nine were at least 15 yards downfield. On the final play of the third quarter, Peterson crashed so hard into the line of scrimmage that nine defenders converged on him, leaving Bridgewater an open throw to Adam Thielen for 30 yards.

"Those guys were thinking run, and it was just great for us," Bridgewater said. "Adrian did a great job clamping down as if he had the football to get those linebackers and defensive backs to step up. It was just a great play call."

It should be a staple of any Vikings offense that has Peterson commanding so much attention, though the Vikings have rarely exploited it the way they could. According to ESPN Stats and Information, Vikings quarterbacks have attempted the second-most play-action passes in the league since 2010, but have the league's third-worst QBR. Not since Brett Favre have the Vikings had a passer who could truly capitalize on defenses who are forced to sell out against Peterson, and Bridgewater had only hit 16 of 35 play-action throws before Sunday.

Against the Lions, though, the quarterback was on point. He hit 11 different receivers on Sunday, dumping the ball to lightly-used fullback Zach Line for a 49-yard catch-and-run off play-action. Bridgewater came within a yard of his career high for passing yards, and he only needed to attempt three throws longer than 20 yards to do it.

"Every game, I feel like we're going to get that opportunity," wide receiver Mike Wallace said. "When you have a guy like [Peterson], you have to stop him from going crazy, letting loose. I feel like we'll have those opportunities throughout the year."

There's still room for improvement. The Vikings settled for field goals too often on Sunday, and they need better from their offensive line. But when Bridgewater faked a handoff to Peterson, pulled the ball back, rolled right and flipped a touchdown to Kyle Rudolph, it was tempting to think: It can't be this easy.

Yes, it can. That's part of what Peterson facilitates. And if the Vikings can keep it up, they could find themselves in a place they haven't seen much lately: the postseason.