Tom Brady named to NFL Pro Bowl, along with CB Stephon Gilmore

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and cornerback Stephon Gilmore were both named to the AFC roster in the 2018 NFL Pro Bowl.

Patriots fans seeking a bit of good news after back-to-back losses found it Tuesday night with the announcement of the 2018 NFL Pro Bowl rosters. Tom Brady and Stephon Gilmore both made the final cut on the AFC side.

It’s a mild surprise that Brady made it, considering his inclusion this year was a matter of serious debate for many analysts and experts. In the end, he edged out Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck for the third and final spot behind starter Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and backup Philip Rivers of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Mahomes and Rivers were both widely seen as locks, as each has a legitimate case for league MVP this year as well.

Statistically-speaking, Luck is having a stronger season than Brady, with a better completion percentage, QBR, quarterback rating, and more touchdowns. Brady’s Patriots have won more games, however, and currently sit at 9-5, compared to the Colts’ record of 8-6.

Either signal-caller was deserving of the honor, and if Colts fans are miffed and feel that Brady got in more on name recognition and recency bias, they’re probably not alone in that thinking.

Gilmore, on the other hand, is a slam-dunk choice for the Pro Bowl. The seven-year veteran is having arguably his best season in the NFL, and certainly his finest as a Patriot since coming over from Buffalo after the 2016 season.

This marks Gilmore’s second Pro Bowl nod. For Brady, it’s his 14th – a feat that now moves him into a tie for the most nominations all-time with four other players (Peyton Manning, Tony Gonzalez, Bruce Matthews, and Merlin Olsen).

Neither player is expected to attend the 2018 Pro Bowl, as both have their sights set on a greater honor: representing their conference in Super Bowl LIII this February.