Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder didn’t have the debut he wanted. The third-year Florida State product went 18-of-28 for 236 yards with one touchdowns and three interceptions in a 34-24 loss to the Detroit Lions Sunday.
Despite the turnover problems, Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier gave Ponder a vote of confidence.
“Christian, he made some mistakes, but he’s not the only reason we didn’t have success on Sunday,” Frazier told ESPN’s Ben Goessling. “Our team did not play well, and that affects the quarterback as well. It wasn’t just Christian, it just so happens that he plays the position that’s under the most scrutiny.”
The Vikings made the playoffs last season and although Ponder performed well at time, he had his share of struggles and couldn’t play in the Vikings opening round playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers because of injury.
Most pundits questioned the Vikings when they took Ponder with the 12th overall pick in the 2011 draft and he hasn’t come close to proving him wrong. In his career, Ponder has completed 476 of 802 passes (59.4%) for 5,024 yards with 32 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
Ponder and the Vikings will be in Chicago to take on the Bears Sunday at 1:00 pm EST.