The Denver Broncos will have three players representing them at the Pro Bowl in February, and all of them will be starters for the AFC.
Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain, free safety Justin Simmons and returner Marvin Mims have all been elected to the Pro Bowl, the NFL announced Wednesday evening. Fans, players and coaches each accounted for one-third of the voting.
Denver guard Quinn Meinerz and fullback Michael Burton were named third alternates. Meinerz and wide receiver Courtland Sutton were the team’s biggest Pro Bowl snubs this year.
Surtain was the only Broncos player elected to the Pro Bowl last year (Simmons was a first alternate at safety). Two years ago, Denver had no players make the Pro Bowl for the first time in 41 years.
The Pro Bowl switched to a flag football format last season with Peyton Manning (AFC) and Eli Manning (NFC) serving as the coaches for their respective conferences. Surtain intercepted a pass in last year’s game.
This season’s Pro Bowl flag football game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 4 in Orlando. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.
1
CB Pat Surtain
Surtain only has one interception this season, in part because he has only faced 82 targets (15th-fewest in the NFL, according to PFF). Despite his low interception total, Surtain remains one of the best CBs in the league.
2
DB Justin Simmons
Simmons has three interceptions this season, marking the sixth straight season that he’s totaled at least three. Simmons is one of the most important members of Denver’s defense, as was evidenced by the way the unit struggled when the safety was injured earlier this season.
3
PR/KR Marvin Mims
Mims has averaged 17.4 yards per punt return this season, which ranks first among NFL players with more than six returns (second overall). His 26.3 yards per kickoff return average ranks third among players with double-digit returns (first in the AFC). Mims did not get many opportunities on offense as a rookie, but he already ranks among the NFL’s best returners.
