The whole world seemed to be stunned by the play of Sam Bradford on Sunday Night Football. While it likely was one of the better performances of his career, it was long overdue. Bradford has gotten to the point in his career in which he gets called overrated to the point in which he was likely underrated coming into that game.
The fact of the matter is, while health has been an issue for Bradford and his career statistics do not wow anybody, he has never been in a situation in which he has been able to thrive in. This season, with the Minnesota Vikings, Bradford will have a chance to prove all of his doubters wrong because he is finally in a situation in which he can succeed.
Sam Bradford Finally in a Situation to Succeed
Before we think about where Bradford can go with the Minnesota Vikings, let us remember where he has been.
2010:
Sam Bradford was the Rookie of the Year in the NFL. He also more than likely was playing with the best wide receiver he would ever play with until last week’s game featuring Stefon Diggs. That would be Danny Amendola. Bradford completed 69% of his passes to Amendola. Amendola led the team in targets with 123, and catches with 85 all while starting in just six games as a second-year player. The Rams went from the first overall pick to 7-9 and some things were looking up.
2011:
In 2011, Amendola got hurt. Bradford did not show progression and started in just ten games due to injury. At the same time, Brandon Lloyd led the team in targets. He was accompanied by Brandon Gibson and Danario Alexander as the players to throw to for the second year quarterback. Add to that, the Rams defense gave up 30 points in six games and no one is saving that runaway train.
2012:
The team went 7-8-1, and Bradford was healthy for all 16 games. Amendola started in eight games and was targeted a team-high 101 times. Brandon Gibson and Chris Givens were the other two weapons of choice of Bradford. He ended up throwing for 20 touchdowns and the team went 3-3-1 when scoring 20 points.
2013:
The Rams went 3-4 before Bradford tore his ACL, starting the injury-prone questions. Jared Cook was the leading receiver that season and also led tight ends in drops that season. Behind Cook was Chris Givens and rookie Tavon Austin, whose role still has been unestablished in the Rams offense.
2015:
Bradford missed the entire 2014 season with his second ACL injury which led to the entire world jumping off of his bandwagon. The Eagles go 7-7 and Bradford completes a career high 65% of his passes, despite the Eagles as a team leading the league in drops, and Jordan Matthews leading the team in targets and drops.
2016:
In steps Stefon Diggs, a player who caught nine of the 11 targets Sam Bradford threw his way in week two. He also has caught 16 of 20 total targets this season. Bradford also has Kyle Rudolph who caught a touchdown pass in his debut with Bradford, and certainly, he can outperform Jared Cook and Zach Ertz as the top tight end that Bradford has been surrounded with. This is without mention of rookie Laquon Treadwell who is practicing and hoping to make a difference as the season goes on. Add in that the 2015 Vikings were 7-1 when scoring 20 points or more and Bradford has to feel like he hit the lottery.
The Vikings may be without Adrian Peterson, at least for a week or two. In Sam Bradford, they were able to add a veteran ball thrower who is used to completing quick passes and has done fairly well with pieces around him. The Vikings clearly have the best situation in which he has ever played in, and with that, we will get to see the real colors of what Sam Bradford can truly be.
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