The Buffalo Bills will be well represented at the NFL Pro Bowl taking place January 29th in Orland Citrus Bowl Stadium in Florida. For the first time since 1998, the Bills will have seven players represent them in the game. As a part of the original selections to the game for the Bills was the star running back LeSean McCoy and veteran standout this season Lorenzo Alexander. Joining the AFC, as replacements will be offensive guard Richie Incognito, quarterback Tyrod Taylor, defensive lineman Kyle Williams, linebacker Zach Brown, and cornerback Stephon Gilmore. LeSean McCoy, as well as Tyrod Taylor, will not participate in the game.
LeSean McCoy
“He’s got one of the best feels I’ve ever been around of just setting guys up and moving guys and using their momentum against them. He’ll be setting a guy up 10 yards away on a move and you’ll think these three guys are going to tackle him and then [he makes] a little stick, a little move, and he’s gone. He’s dynamic. He came in in great shape and he’s really shown all that hard work he’s put in this offseason,” explained fellow Pro Bowler Richie Incognito on McCoy. McCoy put together yet another productive season and his best thus far in Buffalo. A season that saw him run for 1,267 yards along with 13 touchdowns as well as 50 receptions for 356 yards through the air. This is McCoy’s fifth pro-bowl as a pro and second as a member of Buffalo.
Lorenzo Alexander
A career journeyman, Alexander found a home in Buffalo in 2016. Alexander started off the season filling in for the injured rookie Shaq Lawson and never looked back as he started the season off with a seven-game sack street. Alexander entered the season with 9 career sacks through 10-seasons. He would end the season with 12.5 sacks good enough for third in the league. Alexander also recorded his first career interception this season and forced 3 fumbles. This was Alexander’s second pro-bowl.
Richie Incognito
The Bills offense was able to break a 41-year record this past season thanks in large part to the play of offensive guard Richie Incognito. The Bills were able to set a new franchise mark for rushing touchdowns with 27, breaking the previous record of the 1975 team led by O.J. Simpson. Incognito has been the driving force behind an offense that has led the league in rushing for two consecutive seasons.
Tyrod Taylor
“You can’t predict some… moments and that’s just me becoming a player and reacting in a positive way, and going out there and trying to create a play. I will credit some of the broken plays where I’m going out there, escaping pressure, that’s just a credit to the guys if it’s a pass play that we connect on,” mentioned Tyrod Taylor who used those playmaking skills to make his first Pro Bowl. Taylor finished his season passing for over 3,000 yards with 17 scores while nearly 600-yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground as well.
Kyle Williams
Another season and much of the same for Kyle Williams, a productive season coming up empty with no playoffs to show for it. Playing in his 11th professional season for the Bills he has truly emerged as the identity for the team and there on and off the field leader. Williams accounted for 5 sacks on the season on his way to his 5th Pro Bowl.
Stephon Gilmore
Heading to his first Pro-Bowl could not have come at a better time for the soon to be free agent Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore picked up his career best 5 interceptions this season as well as 48 combined tackles. In addition, Gilmore also was the recipient of the Buffalo Bills Ed Block Courage award.
Zach Brown
Brown put together one of the best seasons of any Bills players in 2016. 149 tackles on the season to go along with 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles made sure that the rest of the league was well aware of Brown and his skills at the linebacking position. The Pro Bowl appearance will be Browns first of his career.
