AFC Offensive Stars Can Start Thinking Pro Bowl

Sponsored by Verizon Wireless

By Jason Catania

AFC OFFENSE

The annual showdown of football’s biggest stars, sponsored by Verizon, is set for Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at Aloha Stadium.

Enter for a chance to win a trip to see it live, courtesy of Verizon at: www.verizoninsider.com/probowl

Quarterback

Tom Brady, Patriots

While the NFC is teeming with great QBs, Brady is in a class by himself among AFC passers this season. Through nine games, the six-time Pro Bowler leads his conference in yards (3,032), TDs (23) and passer rating (102.0), while ranking second in all three stats in the entire NFL. Somehow, he’s figured out how to survive sans Randy Moss.

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

Seems every year Big Ben (pictured above) is constantly banged up – and every year he manages to play through the pain and do enough to keep his team racking up Ws. This year, the 29-year-old has been battling injuries to his thumb and foot, but the only thing that could keep Roethlisberger – No. 2 in the AFC in both passing yards (2,877) and TDs (16) – from earning some R&R in Honolulu is if his Steelers are playing in the Super Bowl. Again.

Matt Hasselbeck, Titans

Matt Schaub’s season-ending foot injury puts this final spot up for grabs, and Hasselbeck’s as good a candidate as anyone at this point, thanks to his solid stats and veteran leadership of a Tennessee team that is in the postseason hunt. At 36 and in his first year with a new squad, Hasselbeck would be a bit of a Pro Bowl surprise, if he can continue to perform despite an injury of his own to his throwing arm.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills; Andy Dalton, Bengals

Running Back

Fred Jackson, Bills

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the NFL’s leading rusher. After finally being given the job as Buffalo’s unquestioned feature back, Jackson, 30, has piled up 917 yards and 6 scores through Week 11. Better yet, he’s been as consistent as he has productive, having accumulated an NFL-best six 100-yard games. Won’t be long before FredEx delivers himself to the Pro Bowl for the first time.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars

The fact that MoJo ranks second in the AFC in rushing yards (854) is all the more amazing considering that his team sports football’s most embarrassing aerial “attack.” To wit, Jags passers have averaged just 4.2 net yards per attempt on each dropback. Meanwhile, Jones-Drew’s average rushing attempt goes for 4.4 yards.

Arian Foster, Texans

Honorable Mention: Ray Rice, Ravens; Darren McFadden, Raiders

Wide Receiver

Wes Welker, Patriots

Welker, 30, has made the Pro Bowl each of the last three seasons, but this one is his best yet. He tops football with 72 receptions and 1,006 yards, and he’s not just a possession specialist anymore, either, as his 17 catches of 20-plus yards lead the conference and are already a career-high. Someone should book his flight. Like yesterday.

Mike Wallace, Steelers

Still a deep threat, Wallace is also becoming a more complete wideout. Not only is he No. 1 in the NFL with 6 receptions of 40 yards or more, he’s also on pace for 85 catches, a huge jump from his career-best of 60 in 2010. Wallace is so good at going long, the flight to Hawaii for his first Pro Bowl will probably seem like just another go route.

Vincent Jackson, Chargers

Even though his production has been a bit inconsistent – in part because his quarterback, Philip Rivers, has been even more so – Jackson still remains a big play waiting to happen. Averaging a whopping 19.0 yards per catch, he ranks third-best in the conference in yards (800) and his 7 scores set the pace among AFC WRs.

A.J. Green, Bengals

Hey, a rookie! The No. 4 overall pick out of Georgia, Green has been instant offense for the surprising Bengals. Teaming with QB Andy Dalton, a fellow rook, Green has racked up more receiving TDs (6) than all but two other wideouts. As long as the 23-year-old can overcome a knee injury that kept him out Week 11, he’ll battle for a Pro Bowl spot.

Honorable Mention: Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs; Brandon Marshall, Dolphins

Tight End

Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

Aaron Hernandez, Patriots

Gee, ya think Tom Brady likes throwing to his tight ends? Just like Gronk, Hernandez is a 22-year-old in his second season, and while Hernandez’ stats don’t quite measure up, they’re impressive in their own right. Among AFC TEs, he ranks third in receptions (41), fifth in yards (418) and third in TDs (5). The only other in the top five in each of those stats? (Hint: See above.)

Honorable Mention: Owen Daniels, Texans; Dustin Keller, Jets

PHOTOS: Ben Roethlisberger: Robin Alam/Icon SMI; Arian Foster: Cliff Welch/Icon SMI; Rob Gronkowski: Rich Kane/Icon SMI