ExtremeRavens Posted 6 hours ago Posted 6 hours ago The Ravens might not make the playoffs this year for the first time since 2021, but it isn’t because of a lack of talent. Six players were selected to this year’s Pro Bowl Games, tying for the most in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. That’s also three more than the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. Baltimore (7-8) trails Pittsburgh by two games with two remaining and would be eliminated from playoff contention by a Steelers win over the Browns on Sunday or with a loss to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. Four Ravens were named as starters for the AFC: strong safety Kyle Hamilton, middle linebacker Roquan Smith, fullback Patrick Ricard and punter Jordan Stout. Wide receiver Zay Flowers and center Tyler Linderbaum were also selected. Three others — quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry and tight end Mark Andrews — were voted as alternates. It is the first time Jackson, who missed three games this year because of a hamstring injury and has dealt with several other afflictions, has not been selected as a starter since 2022, which was also another injury-marred season. Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen, Drake Maye and Justin Herbert are the AFC quarterbacks. Sam Darnold, Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford are the quarterbacks for the NFC. For Ricard, it is his sixth Pro Bowl, despite missing the first two months of the season with a calf injury. He has also helped pave the way for what is the league’s No. 3 rushing attack (147.9 yards per game) that includes a league-high 20 runs of at least 20 yards. With Ricard helping lead the way, Henry has also racked up 1,253 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, both fourth-most in the NFL. A former undrafted free agent out of Maine in 2017, Ricard is the seventh player in franchise history to be selected to at least six Pro Bowls, joining linebacker Ray Lewis (13), tackle Jonathan Ogden (11), safety Ed Reed (nine), guard Marshal Yanda (eight), outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (seven) and kicker Justin Tucker (seven). For Smith, it is his fourth consecutive selection. His 124 tackles lead the team and are 11th-most in the NFL. He also has five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery. Hamilton, meanwhile, got his third straight nod. The versatile defender is the only safety in the league and just one of three players overall to rack up at least 90 tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles, five passes defensed and five tackles for loss. He is also one of just two players, along with Browns safety Grant Delpit, to record at least 175 snaps at each slot cornerback, high safety and outside linebacker. Hamilton has played snaps on the edge, middle linebacker, interior line and cornerback. He is the only Ravens defensive back to be chosen to the Pro Bowl three times in his first four years in the league. For Stout, it is his first Pro Bowl in what is his fourth season. His net punting average of 44.9 yards ranks first in the NFL, while his 50.5 gross is third. Both are on pace to set single-season franchise records. Stout has also dropped seven punts inside the 10-yard line and four inside the 5, tying for third-best in the NFL, while his 74-yard punt against the New York Jets in Week 12 was the third-longest boot in the league this season. Linderbaum also was selected for a third straight year after being at the center of a line that has produced the league’s top rushing attack in terms of yards per carry (5.9). He is just the third offensive lineman in team history to nab at least three Pro Bowl selections, joining Ogden and Yanda. A year after becoming the first Ravens receiver to be named to a Pro Bowl, Flowers was selected again. Through 15 games this season, the 2023 first-round pick has 78 catches, which ranks 12th in the AFC, while his 1,043 yards are ninth. He also has two touchdown receptions along with one rushing score. Flowers is only the third Baltimore receiver to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, along with Derrick Alexander and Derrick Mason. This is the fourth year of the Pro Bowl Games. The league replaced its full-contact All-Star game with skills competitions and a flag football game. The events will be held in San Francisco ahead of the Super Bowl. Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (NFC) and Steve Young (AFC) will coach the flag football teams on Feb. 3. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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