The 2019 Pro Bowl rosters were announced last night. As per usual, a slew of Steelers was honored to join the ranks of the elite by being named to the AFC squad. Among those players are perennial stalwarts such as Antonio Brown, David DeCastro, and Maurkice Pouncey. James Conner was named to his first Pro Bowl, while Steelers tackle Alejandro Villanueva and Cameron Heyward (a replacement in last year’s game) return to Orlando.

However, it was who wasn’t named to the NFL’s version of an All-Star game that raised eyebrows. Of course, there are second-year players such as T.J Watt (who leads the Steelers in sacks) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (who leads the team in receiving) that drew the ire of Steelers Nation. Yet, there’s one other name that’s inconspicuously absent from the roster that surprised many: Ben Roethlisberger.

But why?

Why would a quarterback who has been named to four-straight Pro Bowls be left off of this year’s iteration of the team?

That’s what I’ll break down into detail below.

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Interceptions

Rk	Player	G	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	Rate
1	Ben Roethlisberger	14	388	580	66.9	4462	30	15	96.4
2	Sam Darnold	11	199	351	56.7	2357	14	15	72.8
3	Josh Rosen	12	187	336	55.7	2042	10	14	66.3
4	Andrew Luck	14	375	557	67.3	3951	34	13	98.4
5	Jared Goff	14	330	512	64.5	4273	27	13	97.6
6	Cam Newton	14	320	471	67.9	3395	24	13	94.2
7	Jameis Winston	9	188	295	63.7	2311	14	13	85.3
8	Case Keenum	14	311	501	62.1	3396	15	12	82.1
9	Mitchell Trubisky	12	246	379	64.9	2814	23	12	94.1
10	Ryan Fitzpatrick	8	164	246	66.7	2366	17	12	100.4

What will undoubtedly show up as the main reason that Big Ben was left off of this year’s team is his interceptions. Standing tall at the top of the league with 15 picks will get you noticed in a negative light.

However, dare I mention that LA Rams QB Jared Goff has thrown two less picks and three less touchdowns, but was named to the NFC’s side?

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Touchdown Passes

Rk	Player	G	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	Rate
1	Patrick Mahomes	14	346	516	67.1	4543	45	11	114.8
2	Andrew Luck	14	375	557	67.3	3951	34	13	98.4
3	Philip Rivers	14	310	447	69.4	3951	31	8	112.4
4	Russell Wilson	14	250	377	66.3	3025	31	6	111.6
5	Drew Brees	14	337	450	74.9	3666	31	5	116.8
6	Ben Roethlisberger	14	388	580	66.9	4462	30	15	96.4
7	Matt Ryan	14	376	538	69.9	4307	30	6	107.6
8	Jared Goff	14	330	512	64.5	4273	27	13	97.6
9	Kirk Cousins	14	384	545	70.5	3913	26	10	99
10	Cam Newton	14	320	471	67.9	3395	24	13	94.2
11	Tom Brady	14	338	513	65.9	3979	24	9	97.6
12	Deshaun Watson	14	291	430	67.7	3592	24	9	103.2
13	Mitchell Trubisky	12	246	379	64.9	2814	23	12	94.1
14	Aaron Rodgers	14	332	537	61.8	3974	23	2	97.2

I expanded this selection on purpose to illustrate where Roethlisberger stands in terms of scoring plays. Obviously, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is lighting the world on fire, but even Andrew Luck (second on the list) was snubbed for having the same interceptions as Goff, but more touchdowns that fellow honorees Philip Rivers and Drew Brees…

Which leads me to Ben’s interception totals being a further non-factor as Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers lag further behind in that category. (Yes, this is a popularity contest too, but looks a little silly now, doesn’t it?)

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Pass Attempts, Completions and Yards

Rk	Player	G	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	Rate
1	Patrick Mahomes	14	346	516	67.1	4543	45	11	114.8
2	Ben Roethlisberger	14	388	580	66.9	4462	30	15	96.4
3	Matt Ryan	14	376	538	69.9	4307	30	6	107.6
4	Jared Goff	14	330	512	64.5	4273	27	13	97.6
5	Tom Brady	14	338	513	65.9	3979	24	9	97.6
6	Aaron Rodgers	14	332	537	61.8	3974	23	2	97.2
7	Andrew Luck	14	375	557	67.3	3951	34	13	98.4
8	Philip Rivers	14	310	447	69.4	3951	31	8	112.4
9	Kirk Cousins	14	384	545	70.5	3913	26	10	99
10	Derek Carr	14	338	495	68.3	3697	19	8	96.2

This is the moneymaker here: you have to throw the ball in order to complete touchdown passes or risk throwing interceptions.

As of this writing, no one has attempted or completed more passes than Big Ben.

Furthermore, Roethlisberger only trails Mahomes in pass yardage this season, as those two are also the only passers to have exceeded 4,400 yards this season. Ben is also only one of four quarterbacks to have thrown for at least 4,000 yards in 2018 too.

The Steelers quarterback’s numbers are significant here, as he’s on pace to attempt his most pass attempts in his entire career, with his previous high of 608 in 2014, which was also a Pro Bowl season for Big Ben.

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Conclusion

Was Big Ben snubbed?

Yes and no.

You can’t be considered an elite quarterback while also leading the league in interceptions. However, the Pro Bowl is also a popularity contest with fan voting. Apparently, the NFL’s push into the Los Angeles market has proven beneficial for Goff and Rivers, who are playing in this game for a second-straight year. (Note: Goff was an injury replacement for Eagles QB Carson Wentz last season.)

Yet I’d argue that Ben’s pedigree should be such as Tom Brady’s. We really can’t argue Patrick Mahomes’ numbers or the success of the Chiefs and Chargers under their respective quarterbacks this season. In the end, Ben is once again passed on, a general lack of respect he’s been shown his entire career, in favor of someone else.

In this case that someone else is Tom Brady: a player Ben beat head-to-head on Sunday, and currently has more pass attempts, completions, and touchdowns than, including a better completion percentage. The only thing Tom Brady has bragging rights to thus far in 2018 is having thrown fewer interceptions: something that shouldn’t negate the otherwise excellent, Pro Bowl-like season Roethlisberger has had this year.