NFL: Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons dominate Pro Bowl selections

THE Oakland Raiders have been recognised for their superb season with an NFL-best seven players named to next month’s Pro Bowl.

Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates in the stands.

THE Oakland Raiders have been recognised for their superb season with an NFL- best seven players named to next month’s Pro Bowl when the league announced the rosters.

Oakland, currently 11-3 and battling for top spot in the AFC, will send quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper and defensive end Khalil Mack to headline the group of Raiders for the exhibition on January 29 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

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The Atlanta Falcons top the NFC with six players chosen for the game, including quarterback Matt Ryan, wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman.

Tom Brady was voted to his 12th Pro Bowl despite not playing for New England until the team’s fifth game due to suspension.

Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots.

Dallas rookies Dak Prescott (quarterback) and Ezekiel Elliott (running back) were also named to the rosters along with Pro Bowl regulars such as Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger and Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald. Kansas City Chiefs’ electrifying kick returner Tyreek Hill was selected while defensive ends Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, cornerback Richard Sherman and linebacker Bobby Wagner all got the nod from Seattle.

This year’s Pro Bowl will feature a return to the traditional AFC v NFC format after three years that saw captains draft players regardless of conference.

Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders.

2017 PRO BOWL SELECTIONS

AFC PRO BOWL TEAM

QUARTERBACKS (3) — s-Tom Brady, New England; Derek Carr, Oakland; Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh.

WIDE RECEIVERS (4) — s-Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh; s-Amari Cooper, Oakland; A.J. Green, Cincinnati; T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis.

RUNNING BACKS (3) — s-Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh; LeSean McCoy, Buffalo; DeMarco Murray, Tennessee.

FULLBACK (1) — s, x-Kyle Juszczyk, Baltimore.

TIGHT ENDS (2) — s-Travis Kelce, Kansas City; Delanie Walker, Tennessee. TACKLES (3) — s-Donald Penn, Oakland; s-Joe Thomas, Cleveland; x-Taylor Lewan, Tennessee.

GUARDS (3) — s, x-Kelechi Osemele, Oakland; s-Marshal Yanda, Baltimore; David DeCastro, Pittsburgh.

CENTRES (2) — s, x-Rodney Hudson, Oakland; Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh. DEFENSIVE ENDS (3) — s-Khalil Mack, Oakland; s-Cameron Wake, Miami; x-Jadeveon Clowney, Houston.

INTERIOR LINEMEN (3) — s-Geno Atkins, Cincinnati; s-Ndamukong Suh, Miami; Jurrell Casey, Tennessee.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (3) — s-Lorenzo Alexander, Buffalo; s-Von Miller, Denver; Brian Orakpo, Tennessee.

INSIDE/MIDDLE LINEBACKERS (2) — s, x-Dont’a Hightower, New England; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore.

CORNERBACKS (4) — s-Marcus Peters, Kansas City; s-Aqib Talib, Denver; Chris Harris, Jr., Denver; x-Casey Hayward, San Diego.

FREE SAFETIES (2) — s-Devin McCourty, New England; Reggie Nelson, Oakland. STRONG SAFETY (1) — s-Eric Berry, Kansas City.

PUNTER (1) — Pat McAfee, Indianapolis.

PLACEKICKER (1) — Justin Tucker, Baltimore.

RETURN SPECIALIST (1) — x-Tyreek Hill, Kansas City.

SPECIAL TEAMER (1) — Matthew Slater, New England.

NFC PRO BOWL TEAM

QUARTERBACKS (3) — s-Matt Ryan, Atlanta; x-Dak Prescott, Dallas; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay.

WIDE RECEIVERS (4) — s-Odell Beckham, Jr., New York Giants; s-Julio Jones, Atlanta; x-Mike Evans, Tampa Bay; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona. RUNNING BACKS (3) — s, x-Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas; Devonta Freeman, Atlanta; x-David Johnson, Arizona.

FULLBACK (1) — s-Mike Tolbert, Carolina.

TIGHT ENDS (2) — s-Greg Olsen, Carolina; x-Jordan Reed, Washington. TACKLES (3) — s-Tyron Smith, Dallas; s-Trent Williams, Washington; Jason Peters, Philadelphia.

GUARDS (3) — s-Zack Martin, Dallas; s, x-Brandon Scherff, Washington; x-T.J. Lang, Green Bay.

CENTRES (2) — s-Travis Frederick, Dallas; Alex Mack, Atlanta. DEFENSIVE ENDS (3) — s, x-Cliff Avril, Seattle; s-Everson Griffen, Minnesota; Michael Bennett, Seattle.

INTERIOR LINEMEN (3) — s-Aaron Donald, Los Angeles; s-Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay; Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (3) — s, x-Vic Beasley, Atlanta; s-Ryan Kerrigan, Washington; Thomas Davis, Carolina.

INSIDE/MIDDLE LINEBACKERS (2) — s-Bobby Wagner, Seattle; Luke Kuechly, Carolina. CORNERBACKS (4) — s, x-Janoris Jenkins, New York Giants; s-Patrick Peterson, Arizona; x-Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota; Richard Sherman, Seattle. FREE SAFETIES (2) — s-Harrison Smith, Minnesota; x-Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Green Bay. STRONG SAFETY (1) — s, x-Landon Collins, New York Giants.

PUNTER (1) — Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles.

PLACEKICKER (1) — x-Matt Bryant, Atlanta.

RETURN SPECIALIST (1) — Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota.

SPECIAL TEAMER (1) — x-Dwayne Harris, New York Giants.

Originally published as NFL: Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons dominate Pro Bowl selections