Under first-year head coach Sean McDermott, the Buffalo Bills (8-6) have exceeded most of the national expectations for the 2017 season, holding onto a tie for the fifth and six seed in the AFC playoff race with two games remaining.
Tuesday night, the Bills learned that three key members of the team were named to the Pro Bowl roster, while four other players were designated as alternates for the annual all-star game, which takes place Jan. 28, 2018 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Safety Micah Hyde, who is having the best season of his career, earned his first Pro Bowl nod, while running back LeSean McCoy was named to his sixth Pro Bowl (fifth straight honor), and left guard Richie Incognito was named to his fourth Pro Bowl (third straight).
Hyde has a career-best five interceptions with 12 pass breakups and 57 total tackles in his first season in Western New York and was the top fan vote-getter among strong safeties. McCoy recently became the 30th running back to eclipse 10,000 career rushing yards and has his sixth 1,000-yard campaign of his decorated career, rushing for 1,057 yards with six touchdowns while adding a team-high 52 receptions for 350 yards and two touchdowns. Incognito has been a valuable member of the offensive line paving the way for McCoy to run to daylight.
By being named to his first Pro Bowl, Hyde will earn a $400,000 bonus, one of the largest such bonuses in the NFL, per Field Yates.
Center Eric Wood was named a first alternate, while veteran defensive tackle Kyle Williams was named a second alternate. Tight end Charles Clay, and fullback Mike Tolbert (seriously!) were named as third alternates to the Pro Bowl.
None of the Bills named to the Pro Bowl roster are going as starters.