Pro Bowl rosters were announced Tuesday night on NFL Network and three Vikings made it: defensive end Danielle Hunter, safety Harrison Smith and running back Dalvin Cook.
Cook was the top vote-getter for running backs while Smith is listed as the only strong safety on the NFC roster. Hunter, who ranks third in the NFL with 13.5 sacks, is the third of three defensive ends on the roster.
Two names you might immediately think of who didn’t make the Pro Bowl are quarterback Kirk Cousins and linebacker Eric Kendricks.
The three quarterbacks to represent the NFC are Russell Wilson of the Seahawks, Drew Brees of the Saints and Aaron Rodgers of the Packers. Here’s how Cousins stacks up against those three.
- Cousins: 3,481 yards, 25 TD, 5 INT, 70.5%, 111.1 rating
- Wilson: 3,708 yards, 28 TD, 5 INT, 67.4%, 109.3 rating
- Brees: 2,447 yards, 21 TD, 4 INT, 75.8%, 115.3 rating
- Rodgers: 3,463 yards, 24 TD, 2 INT, 63.3%, 1004. rating
Brees has been outstanding but his numbers are lower than Cousins because he missed five games with a thumb injury. Brees is, however, the only quarterback with a higher passer rating than Cousins in the NFC.
Kendricks didn’t make the cut as only two inside linebackers are on the roster, and it’s tough to argue Kendricks or Carolina’s Luke Kuechly and Seattle’s Bobby Wagner, who are ranked second and fourth in the NFL in tackles. Kendricks is 14th in tackles.
The Saints led the NFC with seven Pro Bowl selections. The Eagles came in second with five players, even though they’re .500 (7-7).
The Pro Bowl will be played in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m.
