Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have their sights set on bigger prizes this season, but they can celebrate being the team with the most players selected for the Pro Bowl for the time being.
Nine Ravens players have been selected to take part in the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando. In addition to Jackson, the Ravens Pro Bowlers are quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, fullback Patrick Ricard, wide receiver Zay Flowers, center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and safety Kyle Hamilton.
The event will conclude with a flag football game on February 2, although the Ravens will be hoping to miss that event because they’re in New Orleans for the Super Bowl.
The full rosters for the AFC and NFC are listed below:
AFC
Quarterback: Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson.
Running Back: Derrick Henry, Joe Mixon, Jonathan Taylor.
Fullback: Patrick Ricard.
Wide receiver: Ja’Marr Chase, Jerry Jeudy, Nico Collins, Zay Flowers.
Tight end: Brock Bowers, Travis Kelce.
Offensive tackle: Dion Dawkins, Laremy Tunsil, Rashawn Slater.
Offensive guard: Quenton Nelson, Joe Thuney, Trey Smith.
Center: Creed Humphrey, Tyler Linderbaum.
Defensive end: Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson, Maxx Crosby.
Interior defensive lineman: Cam Heyward, Chris Jones, Nnamdi Madubuike.
Outside linebackers: Nik Bonitto, T.J. Watt, Khalil Mack.
Inside linebackers: Roquan Smith, Zaire Franklin.
Cornerback: Derek Stingley, Pat Surtain II, Denzel Ward, Marlon Humphrey.
Free safety: Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Strong safety: Kyle Hamilton, Derwin James.
Long snapper: Ross Matiscik.
Punter: Logan Cooke.
Kicker: Chris Boswell.
Kick returner: Marvin Mims.
Special teamer: Brenden Schooler.
NFC
Quarterback: Jared Goff, Jayden Daniels, Sam Darnold.
Running back: Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Josh Jacobs.
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk.
Wide receiver: Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Terry McLaurin.
Tight end: George Kittle, Trey McBride.
Offensive tackle: Lane Johnson, Penei Sewell, Tristan Wirfs.
Offensive guard: Landon Dickerson, Tyler Smith, Chris Lindstrom.
Center: Frank Ragnow, Cam Jurgens.
Defensive end: Nick Bosa, Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary.
Interior defensive lineman: Jalen Carter, Dexter Lawrence, Vita Vea.
Outside linebacker: Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jared Verse.
Inside linebacker: Fred Warner, Zack Baun.
Cornerback: Jaylon Johnson, Byron Murphy, Jaycee Horn, Devon Witherspoon.
Free safety: Xavier McKinney.
Strong safety: Budda Baker, Brian Branch.
Long snapper: Andrew DePaola.
Punter: Jack Fox.
Kicker: Brandon Aubrey.
Kick returner: KaVontae Turpin.
Special teamer: KhaDarel Hodge.
The terror attack in New Orleans has claimed 15 lives. It could have been much worse.
Via Gabbriella Killet of the New Orleans Times Picayune, two bombs were found by police in the aftermath of the driving of a truck through a crowd celebrating the New Year early Wednesday. Dozens were injured.
The driver of the truck, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was shot and killed by authorities.
A homemade pipe bomb with nails and plastic explosive in an ice chest was found near police cars parked at the corner of Orleans and Bourbon Street, near police cars. Another bomb was found in the 600 block of Bourbon Street.
The remote control for the two devices was found in the truck, along with additional explosive materials.
A second vehicle was following the truck. It was registered to the driver of the truck. Surveillance footage showed three men and one woman placing the first device.
State and federal officials searched the driver’s address, but found nothing. Another address linked to the driver was on fire. Police determined it was arson. Bomb-making material was found there.
Both vehicles have a history of multiple crossings of the Mexico border, in two locations in Texas.
The Sugar Bowl was postponed by one day. The Superdome was on lockdown for a day, allowing for a full search of the facility.
“My heart is broken for the loss of a lot of innocent lives,” Broncos coach Sean Payton told reporters on Wednesday. Payton coached the Saints for 16 years, from 2006 through 2021. “It’s just gut-wrenching news, especially this time of year. There’s no great time of the year, but when it happens when so many people are down there for the bowl game and down there for the New Years festivities. I hate it.”
As bad as it was, the killing of the driver by police likely kept the bombs from being detonated.
The search for the others involved in the incident continues.
The expectation since last Wednesday’s win over the Steelers has been that the Chiefs will be resting quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Week 18 and head coach Andy Reid confirmed it on Wednesday.
Carson Wentz will make his first start as a member of the Chiefs. Wentz signed with the Chiefs in the offseason and went 2-of-2 for 20 yards in two appearances earlier this season.
Wentz’s last NFL start came in Week 18 last year with the Rams. He went 17-of-24 for 163 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in that game.
Reid also said that wide receiver Mecole Hardman will return to practice on Wednesday. Hardman has been on injured reserve due to a knee injury for the last four games and he can be activated to play against the Broncos or at any point in the next 21 days.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf), right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee), and running back Isiah Pacheco (ribs) are not going to practice on Wednesday.
Broncos coach Sean Payton knows how the game is played. When he opened the second half of Super Bowl XLIV with a surprise onside kick that worked, Payton was lauded.
When the Broncos lost to the Bengals in overtime after not attempting a two-point conversion at the end of regulation, Payton was second guessed.
Payton said immediately after the 30-24 loss that it was the “right” call to tie the game with a PAT following Marvin Mims’ touchdown with eight seconds left.
On Monday, Payton left room to “second guess.”
“Oh, certainly, you go through it all the time relative to what the call would have been [for the two-point play],” he said, via Nick Kosmider of TheAthletic.com. “Based on the outcome, you always second guess. You always do that as a head coach. I trusted my gut at the moment but, yeah, I think it’s normal to do that.”
Joe Burrow threw a 3-yard touchdown to Tee Higgins with 1:07 remaining in overtime when a tie would have clinched a playoff berth for the Broncos. That played a role into Payton’s decision-making.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix held up two fingers after throwing the touchdown, but during a lengthy replay of Mims’ score, Payton changed his mind.
The Broncos still will clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2015 if they beat the Chiefs in the regular-season finale. A loss would require both the Bengals and Dolphins to lose in Week 18 for the Broncos to make the playoff field.
The Chiefs have nothing to play for and will rest some of their starters Sunday.
Next Sunday night’s game between the Lions and Vikings may be the most consequential game on the Week 18 schedule, but it is far from the only one that will impact the playoff picture.
Saturday’s games will determine who wins the AFC North as well as whether the Bengals will have any chance of advancing to the postseason. If they beat the Steelers, they will be alive on Sunday and the Ravens will be the division champions. The Ravens will also take the crown by beating the Browns while a Steelers win and a Ravens loss will make Pittsburgh the AFC North champions.
The winner of the AFC North will be the third seed in the AFC. The Chiefs are No. 1, the Bills are No. 2 and the Texans are No. 4.
If the Bengals win, they’ll need the Broncos to lose to the Chiefs and the Dolphins to lose to the Jets in order to advance. A Broncos win makes them a wild card team while the Dolphins get the spot with a win and a Denver loss.
Atlanta’s loss on Sunday night means the Bucs will win the NFC South by beating the Saints. The Falcons will get the title with a win and a Bucs loss while losses by both teams will mean Tampa advances.
The Lions and Vikings will close out the regular season in Detroit on Sunday night. Both teams are in the playoffs, but the winner will be the NFC North champs and the No. 1 seed in the NFC while the loser will be on the road in the first round as the fifth seed.
Elsewhere in the NFC, the Eagles are guaranteed the No. 2 seed, but either the Rams or the NFC South champ could wind up as the No. 3 seed. The Packers and Commanders will also sort out who finishes sixth and seventh, so there are plenty of meaningful games to be played in Week 18.
