Three Steelers players got some good news on Tuesday night, an early Christmas gift of sorts, when Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and David DeCastro were all selected to the 2016 Pro Bowl. This is the 15th straight season the Steelers are sending multiple players to the Pro Bowl, and the 24th time in the last 27 seasons.
It's not often you can miss four regular season games with a knee injury and still get selected to the Pro Bowl, but Roethlisberger did just that. Roethlisberger was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl, previously being chosen in 2008, 2012 and 2015. He has completed 271 passes for 3,369 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, ranking first in the NFL in passing yards per game with 336.9. This past Sunday Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to throw for 300 yards against the Denver Broncos since Dec. 7, 2014. Roethlisberger also now hit the 250 completions mark last week (271), setting a Steelers record with five consecutive 250-completion seasons. He also has thrown a touchdown pass in 38 straight home games, the fourth-longest streak in NFL history and the second-longest active streak. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week twice (Weeks 2 and 10) this season.
Brown will be making his third consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl and the fourth of his NFL career, previously selected in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Brown, who was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November, is second in the NFL in receptions with 116 receptions and leads the league with 1,586 receiving yards and 1,614 yards from scrimmage. Brown, who has eight 100-yard games this season, also has accounted for nine touchdowns. With his 16 receptions for 189 yards against the Broncos last week, Brown became the first player in NFL history to record two games with 15 or more receptions in the same season. He had 17 receptions for 284 yards earlier this season in a win over Oakland. Brown has recorded at least 110 receptions for the third straight season, a new franchise record, and is the second player in NFL history with at least 110 receptions in three consecutive seasons. Brown is the only player in Steelers history to have back-to-back seasons with at least 1,500 yards and one of only three Steelers to have 6,500 career receiving yards, joining Hines Ward and Lynn Swann.
Here are your selections to represent the Steelers in the 2016 Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
The Steelers offensive line is having one of their best seasons ever, and the steady play of DeCastro has definitely been a key factor. DeCastro, selected to his first Pro Bowl, was part of the offensive line that didn't allow a sack against San Francisco and Oakland this season. DeCastro, the former No. 1 draft pick who has started 38 straight games, has also been part of a line that helped lead the way for the offense to gain at least 450 net yards in four straight regular season games, tying an NFL record. He has helped lead the way for an offense that ranks second in the league in net yards per game (402.9) and yards per play (6.3).
The Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, Jan. 31 at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii and televised on ESPN. Once again the Pro Bowl is unconferenced, and players were selected without their conference taken into consideration via a combination of players, coaches and fans voting. The players will be assigned to a team via a Pro Bowl Draft.
Order Tickets: The 2016 NFL Pro Bowl is your only chance to see the NFL's all-stars on the field together. Get your ticket now to see your Steelers up close and personal in Hawaii. Tickets are on sale now to see the NFL Pro Bowl on January 31st at Aloha Stadium. Visit probowl.com to buy your tickets today.
