The three Bs are heading to Orlando. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell were all named to this year’s Pro Bowl. Those three, along with center Maurkice Pouncey and guard David DeCastro, are the Pittsburgh Steelers’ representative in this year’s Pro Bowl.
Pro Bowl voting is conducted by fans, NFL coaches and players.
Notably, no one from Pittsburgh’s defense was selected — not even linebacker Ryan Shazier.
All five of the selected Steelers have made the Pro Bowl roster before. It’s the fifth selection for Roethlisberger (his third-straight), Brown and Pouncey, and it’s the second selection for both Bell and DeCastro.
The trio of Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown make up one of the most lethal NFL offenses, and their selections weren’t at all surprising.
This season, Roethlisberger has a 63.9 completion percentage, a 94.9 passer rating, a 66.1 QBR. He’s thrown 26 touchdowns and is averaging 7.44 yards per completion.
Brown was perhaps the surest of Pittsburgh’s selections. The talented wideout is in the NFL’s top three in yards (1,188), receptions (96) and touchdowns (11).
Despite missing the first three games of the season, Bell was a shoe-in for a trip to the Pro Bowl — in fact, he’s a legitimate MVP pick. Even missing those three games, Bell is third in rushing yards (1,146) and second in yards per game (104.2). The running back had a four-game streak of 100-plus yard games (including a 236 yard game against the Buffalo Bills.) The AFC’s other Pro Bowl backs are the Tennessee Titans’ DeMarco Murray and the Bills’ LeSean McCoy.
DeCastro and Pouncey are two crucial members of an offensive line that has quietly been one of the league’s best. Roethlisberger has only been sacked 17 times this season (the much-heralded Cowboys’ o-line has allowed 24 sacks), and the line has helped Bell and DeAngelo Williams have monster seasons. DeCastro joins fellow guards Marshal Yanda (Baltimore Ravens) and Kelechi Osemele (Oakland Raiders) on the roster, and Pouncey and Rodney Hudson (Raiders).
The Pro Bowl will take place one week before the Super Bowl on Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. EST. The game will return to an AFC vs. NFC format after a fantasy-like experiment. The game will also feature some skills competition and a dodgeball game.
It’s unclear how many of the Steelers will actually play in the game. Roethlisberger has bowed out of the last two Pro Bowls with injuries, and Brown didn’t play last year after a season-ending concussion.
