2017 NFL Predictions: Super Bowl, Awards and #1 Pick Expectations
By Erik Lambert
The true meat of the season is set to begin and so the 2017 NFL predictions must begin again, but this time with a deeper reach.
Not only will this involve predicting who wins the major awards for this season, but also the other big questions that will be on peoples’ minds. Who reaches the Super Bowl? Who claims the #1 pick in the draft? These are things that will jump to the front of the conversation at some point in the near future. Thus here is the latest breakdown of what’s coming and why.
MVP: Russell Wilson
There’s no doubt that Tom Brady and Carson Wentz are having outstanding seasons, but neither of those men have truly had to carry his team to such an extent as Russell Wilson has. Just watch the tapes of the Texans and Eagles games for an idea. The results are totally different without his uncanny playmaking prowess and ability to perform under pressure. The numbers don’t show it but this is his best season as a pro and the Seattle Seahawks are playoff contenders because of it.
Defensive Player of the Year: Calaise Campbell
The Jacksonville Jaguars defense was okay in 2016. They were not even close to elite. Now a year later and they’re one of the best in the NFL. So what changed? The arrival of Calaise Campbell is what changed. The Pro Bowl star defensive linemen left Arizona and proceeded to have the best season of his career in his new home. He has 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles but beyond that is his impact on the locker room. Things changed the moment he walked in the door.
Comeback Player of the Year: Case Keenum
People had long since believed backup was the only job left for Case Keenum when he left Houston a few years ago. He’d shown flashes of potential but could never quite find his groove. Then he found Pat Shurmur in Minnesota and its been a match made in football heaven. Keenum is playing at an All-Pro level for the Vikings, always making the big play when needed. He’s been so good that the future of Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford are suddenly in doubt.