The Detroit Lions currently lead the NFC North, and while lifelong fans know they still have a chance to choke that away, I thought it was kind of crappy that absolutely no one from the team made the annual Pro Bowl NFC All Star team announced yesterday.

Quarterback Matt Stafford and cornerback Darrius Slay have had outstanding seasons for the team, and so has kicker Matt Prater, but that impressed no one in the consensus of players, coaches and fans that choose the squads.

Beating out Stafford were Amtt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons, Dak Prescott from Dallas and Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (Stafford could deliver the last laugh to Rodgers by beating the Packers in the last game of the season January 1).

Slay was beaten out by Xavier Rhodes from NFC North rival Minnesota and the outspoken Richard Sherman from Seattle.

Prater was beat out for the kicking duties by Matt Bryant from Atlanta.

Prater is 21 of 24 on field goals this season including four of 50 yards or more. Two of those came in the win over the Vikings on Nov. 6. He kicked a 53-yard field goal with 1:08 left to send that game to overtime and then kicked a 58-yarder for the overtime win.

Minnesota Vikings v Detroit Lions
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Stafford, Slater, and Slay were named alternates to the team, which means they would play if someone at their position either is playing in the Super Bowl, or opts out.

Look at the bright side, maybe the diss will fuel some fire in the belly of the team as they head off to Dallas to take on the Cowboys Monday Night.

Leading the way in players were seven from the AFC’s Oakland Raiders led by Derrick Carr, Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack and six from the NFC’s Atlanta Falcons, led by Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Devonta Freeman.

The Falcons, FYI have the same record as the Lions, 9-5. WTH?

Dallas Cowboy running back Ezekiel Elliott made the team, fresh out of that Salvation Army kettle. Joining him will be teammate Dak Prescott.

Over in the AFC, and to no one’s surprise, ageless Tom Brady was selected as was human highlight wide receiver Antonio Brown of the Steelers (who is a CMU grad) and Titans running back DeMarco Murray who bounced back to incredible form again this year after a down 2015.

The Pro Bowl will be played in Orlando Florida the week before the Super Bowl, January 28th.

There will be a Pro Bowl Skills Showdown that will be produced by the group that does American Ninja Warrior. It will consist of Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball, the Power Relay Challenge, Precision Passing, and Best Hands competitions. Tony Gonzalez and Charles Woodson will be the captains offensively and defensively for the NFC squad.

I'm sorry, did they say 'Dodgeball'? Maybe it's good the Lions won't be there, after all.

 

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