Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Dallas Cowboys
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Los Angeles Rams
Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Commanders
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Denver Broncos
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tennessee Titans
The list of Pro Bowl players is out, and there are some familiar faces on the roster for the Kansas City Chiefs and at least a couple who were strangely omitted.
Five KC players were chosen, while another five will serve as alternates for the festivities from February 1 to 4th.
It’ll be Eli Manning’s NFC taking on his brother Peyton’s AFC team in Orlando, Florida, and many of the lucky Chiefs selected are household names.
The Chiefs Fab Five
Four of the five Chiefs selected to the first AFC squad feature on the offensive side of the ball.
It’s the second straight season that Creed Humphrey is in the Pro-Bowl, with the Chiefs center named as a starter to Peyton’s squad.
His 726 pass-blocking snaps leads all centers, with Humphrey being the best pass-blocking center this year, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Travis Kelce is another starter to the AFC squad, with the Chiefs’ tight end receiving the fifth-most fan votes (327,263).
The future Hall of Famer has 93 receptions this season for 984 yards and five touchdowns.
Chris Jones is the final Chiefs player to be a starter, registering 9.5 sacks in 2023, while he’s second among interior defensive linemen for pressures (67).
Reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes won’t be a starter, but he’s still on the AFC roster, his sixth nomination in six seasons.
In 2023, Mahomes has a league-high 401 completions for 4,183 yards and 27 touchdowns.
He’s been sacked the second-fewest times among any qualified quarterbacks in the NFL this season, thanks to the outstanding play of Joe Thuney.
According to PFF, Thuney, the last Chief to be on the AFC squad is the top pass-blocker among guards.
It’s his second straight Pro Bowl nomination.
The Alternates
There were five alternates from the Chiefs that received a nomination, some who should’ve been higher on the list.
I don’t think anyone’s had to face a tougher group of receivers’ week after week than L’Jarius Sneed so having him among the alternates is surprising.
Sneed’s got 78 tackles, leading KC with 14 passes defended and two interceptions.
Next is offensive guard Trey Smith, who’s been pivotal in the lack of QB sacks for Mahomes.
Isiah Pacheco averages 4.6 yards per carry on the ground with seven scores, earning his place among the alternates.
Willie Gay has 58 tackles in 2023, plus a sack while defending four passes with one interception.
In just eight games, Nick Bolton has 60 tackles, one for a loss, defending three passes with and an interception.
Chief Snubs
For my money Sneed should be higher than an alternate, but it’s also puzzling to not see Trent McDuffie on any Pro Bowl list.
His 80 tackles this season, with three sacks, while defending seven passes deserves a spot in my opinion, even though he’s without an interception.
While Justin Tucker is perhaps the best clutch kicker in NFL history, Harrison Butker had a case to be the one AFC kicker on the team.
His field goal percentage of 93.9% is third behind Brandon Aubrey and Greg Zuerlein, but he’s four for four from beyond 50 yards and hasn’t missed a convert.