The anticipation surrounding the Pro Bowl roster selections often brings joy to some players while others face disappointment, especially when deserving candidates are overlooked. This year, the exclusion of Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love is particularly egregious. His absence calls into question the criteria that were possibly used to select those who were included. Despite his impressive performances this season, Love’s exclusion from the Pro Bowl reflects a broader narrative around quarterback evaluations and team success.
Ultimately, Love’s case is even more compelling once you compare it to what the Carolina Panthers have done with Sam Darnold. Darnold might have earned his squad some additional victories. When you look at Love’s individual impact and contributions on the field, there’s more to the story. That’s the least of his incredible accomplishments. He never misses an off night. Even when creating in a tough environment with not much help from his receiving corps, he shows his value.
The Quarterback Conundrum
In the meantime, Jordan Love has shown enough promise this season that he looks, on balance, to be a better player than Darnold. Additionally, the Panthers have produced a far superior win-loss record. With what Love has done to affect games and his performance stats, he honestly deserves a Pro Bowl roster spot. Critics like ESPN’s Bill Barnwell charge that his exclusion is due to the false myth of #QBWinz. This mythology frequently punishes personal success by focusing excessively on the accomplishment of the team.
Despite playing on a team that has not achieved substantial victories, Love ranks eighth in his team’s receiving yardage share and fourth in air yards share. These statistics highlight his ability to connect with receivers, making significant plays despite facing challenges. His relationship with his teammates and ability to lead passion for driving fuel his nomination yet clearly deserve consideration for the prestigious honor.
Additionally, Love’s résumé distinguishes himself from fellow draft-entrant Darnold. His numbers paint the picture of someone who has understood the game and consistently developed and adjusted whereas Darnold has had persistent turnover trouble. Love’s ability to navigate the complexities of being a starting quarterback in the NFL while still putting up respectable numbers speaks volumes about his potential for future success.
Standout Performers Overlooked
In addition to Love, several other players have been snubbed from the Pro Bowl roster despite their impressive performances throughout the season. One other famous example is this year’s rookie phenom Chris Olave of the New Orleans Saints. Additionally, Olave has separated himself as a top-ten receiver in the league, ranking tenth or higher in target share, receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. His fifth-place finish in targets and sixth place finish in receptions prove just how reliable he is as a target for quarterbacks.
Olave’s impact goes beyond the boxscore as he’s currently eighth in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. His effectiveness on the ground goes a long way to opening up the Saints’ offensive playbook. With teams heavily relying on their star receivers, Olave’s consistent output underscores why he should have been recognized as a Pro Bowl-worthy talent this season.
Players such as Kentavius Street and Nasir Adderley have been less fortunate. Wright’s turnover-rich season has brought some doubts about his performance this season, especially with his obvious woes with punting. By dropping ten punts inside the ten-yard line, he’s making his squad defend more tiny fields than necessary. Worse yet, five of his four drops within the five yard line, killing his value altogether. These examples are the extreme ends of curved player evaluation, where traditional statistics may fail to account for what really matters.
Defensive Contributions Matter
Defensive players are equally, if not more, hard done by as far as getting recognized for their efforts goes. Against NFC interior defenders, Turner has decimated them to the tune of 34 total pass rush wins. This astounding accomplishment ranks him third in the entire NFL, just behind Chris Jones and Jeffery Simmons, Pro Bowl superstars. Turner’s ability to turn opposing offenses on their heads highlights how important defensive difference-makers are in determining the perennial outcomes that shaped the respective games.
Seumalo’s remarkable blocking metrics this year have slipped under the radar like most teams do on clear-outs by offensive stars. His presence has been vital to their creation of a mighty offensive line that shelters deep passes as well as long runs. Appreciating these players is important for, more often than not, their hard work is what lays the groundwork for their teams’ achievements.
Further, Dotson has been a key cog in the Rams’ rushing attack, paving the way for a record-setting season filled with historical consistency. His ability to create opportunities for the running backs showcases the importance of having reliable players who can execute their roles effectively.
Leave a Reply