By Anthony Sambrotto, Contributing Correspondent to BuffaloBills.com
The Bills have had an up and down season for sure, but the play of the handful of players listed below has been worthy of Pro Bowl consideration.
With the NFL’s best rushing offense and one of this year’s fiercest pass rushes, the Bills have more than a few candidates who could wind up playing an extra week of football in late-January.
The first update of the Fan voting for the Pro Bowl was released this week and four Bills rank in the Top 5 at their position.
In addition to those players, the Bills have a few other candidates who will certainly make their way up the leaderboard as voting remains open until December 13.
The Pro Bowl is determined by a combination of fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counts as one-third toward determining the players.
This year the game will be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida the Sunday before the Super Bowl. The selection of the teams will return to the traditional AFC vs. NFC format, with 88 players being selected.
Fans can vote online or on social media, using the hashtag #ProBowlVote
The story of Alexander’s torrid start to the season has been well-documented, but even when the sacks stopped coming in recent weeks, the linebacker has contributed in other ways.
On the season, he has recorded 44 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, 16 QB hits, and three forced fumbles.
Despite not having a sack in the last three games, he is still tied for third in the NFL with 10. Alexander was only the seventh NFL player since 1982 to have a sack in the first seven games to start a team’s season, and was only the second Bill to do it, joining Bruce Smith. He had only nine in his 11-year career before signing a veteran minimum contract to come play for Ryan’s defense.
His six sacks and 19 tackles in the month of October, earned him the AFC Defensive Player of the Month, becoming the first Bills linebacker to win the award since 2000.
“In this system we are put in a position to make plays,” Zach Brown said. “A lot of people can’t make those plays, but he can.”
Ryan called him the MVP of Buffalo’s defense a few weeks ago, illustrating all of the various ways he contributes to the team.
Remarkably, even with his revelation as a pass rusher, Alexander still contributes on special teams. He’s been on the field for 187 special teams plays and is tied for second on the Bills with six tackles.
“When he came in here he just outplayed everybody and so he earned that job, he took that job,” Ryan said. “He impressed all the coaches immediately, the fact he learned, and he spent no telling how much time learning the defense. Getting caught up to speed with everybody and then physically going out and doing the job. He is great with his teammates and he communicates extremely well.”