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It took Matt Cassel just two games to deftly summarize his career.
In Game 1, DiploMatt, the nice-guy professional who makes everyone comfortable, eased the Vikings to a 34-6 victory over St. Louis while playing flawlessly.
In Game 2, facing a superior defensive coach and lacking a star running back, HazMatt, the toxic quarterback, threw four interceptions, dooming the Vikings in their 30-7 loss to the Patriots at TCF Bank Stadium.
DiploMatt can make the best of a good situation. DiploMatt won 11 games with an excellent Patriots team in 2008, and won 10 with a previously inept Kansas City team in 2010.
HazMatt has gone 13-27 in his other five seasons, dooming his stay with the Chiefs in 2012 by throwing 12 interceptions and fumbling eight times in nine games.
DiploMatt runs the offense with discipline.
HazMatt stares down receivers so long defensive backs have time to Xerox blocking schemes for their interception returns.
If the Vikings are using kid gloves with rookie Teddy Bridgewater, they need to wear yellow jumpsuits when they approach Cassel.
The afternoon began calmly enough. Cassel hugged Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his buddy Tom Brady before the game, and led the Vikings on a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive on their first possession.
The Vikings led 7-0 on a beautiful afternoon, before Cassel began breaking bad.
On the Vikings' second possession, he dropped back, had time to survey the field, and lobbed what looked like a punt toward Jarius Wright near midfield.
Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty had time to run halfway across the turf to make the interception and returned it to the Vikings 1, setting up the Patriots' first touchdown.
By halftime, Vikings fans were booing.
By the time Cassel threw his third interception, early in the third quarter, fans were chanting Bridgewater's name.
"If you play the position long enough, you have got to have tough skin,'' Cassel said. "That's how it goes. I know the fans were frustrated today, just like we were frustrated.''
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Cassel will start next week at New Orleans. Asked whether he considered inserting Bridgewater on Sunday, Zimmer said: "No, but as I've said before, I'm going to hold the quarterback position just like every position here, to the same standard. I also said I'm not going to have a quick hook. Matt needs to play better. It's pretty obvious he needs to play better. We all need to play better. I need to coach better.''
That last sentence is as meaningless as most of the comments coaches make after games.
Cassel is being coached by Norv Turner, a quarterback's best friend.
If he can't run Turner's offense under duress, Cassel will soon be standing on the sideline, telling the rookie to do as he says, not as he did.
"When you lose in the manner in which we did, and when I was struggling a little bit, I can understand their frustration,'' Cassel said of the fans. "At the same time, you've got to tune it out and go out there and perform.''
The reappearance of HazMatt means Bridgewater's debut may not be far off.
You wouldn't want Bridgewater to make his debut in the Superdome, where noise blitzes the eardrums.
You wouldn't want to rush to judgment on Cassel after one bad game.
But if HazMatt shows up again in New Orleans, the following week's matchup offers one of the more inviting opponents on the early-season schedule.
Two weeks from now, the Atlanta Falcons visit TCF Bank Stadium. The Falcons are not a strong defensive team, or a daunting road team. If Zimmer is forced to play Bridgewater soon, Week 4 would be ideal.
In Week 1, Cassel hinted at the possibility of starting 16 games for a contender.
In Week 2, he reprised the moments that have frequently made him a backup quarterback.
Vikings brass wanted Cassel to act as a bridge to their quarterback of the future.
They had to know that this is one bridge that is retractable.
Jim Souhan can be heard weekdays at noon and Sundays from 10 to noon on 1500 ESPN. @SouhanStrib • jsouhan@startribune.com