Four Vikings Selected to 2019 Pro Bowl
Jordan Hawthorn
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The 2019 Pro Bowl results were posted last night! Whether you love the Pro Bowl for its backyard/playground style of football or hate the Pro Bowl because of the lack of blitzing or effort, every fan should be excited when they see their favorite player has been given the honor of going. The Vikings have four players going to this year’s Pro Bowl, while last season the Vikings had a total of seven players actually attend the game, with three of them being alternates. This year Vikings fans will see Adam Thielen, Danielle Hunter, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith all play in Orlando. The case can be made, as always, for players that were snubbed from the list, so let’s look at who actually made the Pro Bowl for this season and who should’ve made the Pro Bowl.
Adam Thielen: 105 catches, 1,255 yards, 9 touchdowns.
Adam Thielen has had the best year for a Vikings receiver since the days of Randy Moss, so it is easy to see why he made the Pro Bowl roster this season. Thielen set the record for most 100-yard receiving games to start the season with 8 and tied “Megatron” Calvin Johnson for the record of most 100-yard games consecutively at any point in a season, also with 8. Thielen has cooled down in recent weeks, but still manages to make a clutch catch or a spectacular grab every game, so he was an easy choice for the 2019 Pro Bowl.
Danielle Hunter: 14.5 sacks, 20 tackles for a loss, 41 tackles.
Danielle Hunter makes the Pro Bowl because he is having the best year of any Vikings defensive end since Jared Allen nearly broke the all-time sack record. Hunter has gotten home to the quarterback a lot this season, but he has also played a key role as a run stopper which is rare for a superstar defensive end. Hunter is having his best season so far and could still finish as the league’s leader in sacks.
Anthony Barr: 49 tackles, 3 sacks, 6 tackles for a loss.
Anthony Barr has been selected to his fourth straight Pro Bowl because of his ability to play all over the field. Barr has seen success as a pass rusher this season and has also been good in pass coverage when needed. He is having a great year for himself and could be playing himself straight into a new contract. This could be Barr’s best year so far, and he could be playing himself into a new contract.
Harrison Smith: 3 interceptions, 3 sacks, 71 tackles.
Harrison Smith also makes his fourth straight Pro Bowl and will be going this year because of his amazing play all over the field. Smith has gotten sacks by playing down in the box and rushing the passer effectively. He’s gotten interceptions by playing out of the box and being a ball hawking safety. He’s gotten his tackles by playing all over the field in a variety of styles. Smith has proven that he is one of the best safeties in the NFL and adding another Pro Bowl to his name will just further this statement.
Snubbed: Kirk Cousins. 3,913 yards, 26 touchdowns, 70.5% on passes, 99.0 QBR.
The reason I’m stating Cousins was snubbed from the Pro Bowl this year is because a quarterback with worse numbers was voted in this year. 3,974 yards, 23 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a QBR of 97.2. These are the numbers of Aaron Rodgers, who made the Pro Bowl this season. The case for Cousins to go to the Pro Bowl is a simple one. Cousins has more touchdowns and a better QBR this season than Rodgers, and I didn’t even mention that Cousins currently has his team in the playoffs, while Rodgers’ team was just mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. I understand why Cousins wasn’t chosen over Rodgers, let’s be honest we all know Rodgers is better. But Cousins not making the Pro Bowl while Rodgers does just doesn’t seem right when you look at their numbers on the season.