Denver Broncos: Which of these predictions is more achievable?
Big things are in store for Denver Broncos pass rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. It is to the point where the two star defensive players are getting some attention from a well-known writer and analyst.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports laid out several predictions across the league, and two of those predictions involve Miller and Chubb.
Miller is predicted to become the league’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2021 after missing the entire 2020 season to an ankle injury. Chubb is predicted to become the league sack leader.
You heard that correctly, Broncos Country. The league sack leader.
It’s the NFL. Anything is possible. You see players come onto the scene every single year. While Miller has made his mark in the league over the past 10 seasons, he’ll be the first to tell you that he can do better.
Then there’s Chubb, who tore his ACL in 2019–his second year in the league—and came back the following year registering 7.5 sacks.
Which of the predictions is the most likely?
In a year that was interrupted by COVID-19 challenges, the league saw an increase in injuries, which included a bunch of season-ending ACL tears among other types of injuries.
Per Sportico.com, the NFL saw a total of 801 injuries occur in 2020.
Among the players that suffered season-ending injuries were Denver Broncos pass rusher Von Miller, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey and San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa.
Boy, that’s a lot of star players. That makes winning Comeback Player of the Year extremely difficult for Miller, no matter what he does. It’s probably safe to assume that the winner of that acknowledgment will either be Burrow, Prescott, Barkley or McCaffrey, but you just never know.
So what about Chubb leading the league in sacks?
Here’s the thing: there are so many star pass rushers across the league. I still would bet money on the Chubb prediction coming true before Miller’s prediction simply because of the number of star players that will be returning in 2021. Those players will do wonders for their team.
Chubb has shown a lot of talent since entering the league as the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and with Miller’s guidance, has played exceptionally well.
Even though it’s possible that both Miller and Chubb could be on pitch counts to start the season, I feel strongly that Chubb can come in and dominate opposing offensive lines.