Eagles Analysis: 8 Predictions for the 2015 Season
By Pat Roach
Aug 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) tackles Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford (7) late and is called for a penalty during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sam Bradford will win Comeback Player of the Year
I’ve already outlined my reasoning for Bradford’s incredible bounce-back campaign, so it’s only natural that I also project him as the league’s Comeback Player of the Year.
Given Bradford’s recent history, he easily meets the criteria of a prospective comeback player. Bradford tore his ACL in his left knee partway through the 2013 season, only to return and re-tear that very same ligament during the following preseason. Should Bradford make it through 2015 unscathed, it’ll be the first time he didn’t finish the year on the IR since 2012.
Earlier in my predictions, I tabbed Chip as my Executive of the Year, citing at least one playoff victory as the criteria for his being given the award. So, if Kelly is to win a playoff game, well, then Bradford will as well, of course.
Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL bar-none, and if a quarterback compiles the stat line that I proposed for Bradford and then proceeds to top it all off with a playoff victory, it’d be difficult not to consider him the front-runner for Comeback Player of the Year honors. To be honest, even if Bradford only has a decent year and the Eagles make the playoffs, it’s likely he’ll still be given the award. After all, it’s not as though there’s a long and distinguished list of competitors for the award, though Navarro Bowman certainly has a shot. Maybe Carson Palmer will be considered as well? I’m not sure his injury woes stack up to Bradford’s, however. Nevertheless, I’d be surprised if Bradford doesn’t run away with this one.
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