SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Lindsay H. Jones breaks down the biggest games of Week 16. USA TODAY Sports
The announcement of Pro Bowl selections annually yields plenty of second-guessing about the candidates who missed the cut.
A good number of worthy players made the AFC and NFC rosters on Tuesday night, but there were also plenty of noteworthy exclusions.
Here are some of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs:
Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Smith was an MVP favorite before the Chiefs hit midseason slide in which his team lost six of seven games. He has since righted the ship with an NFL-best 105.4 passer rating, and the Chiefs are in control of the AFC West.
Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are leading the NFC West, a huge surprise given the state of the team and its quarterback a season ago. The dramatic improvement of Goff is a big reason for the Rams' impressive season. The second-year quarterback ranks in the top 10 in passing yards (3,503), touchdowns (24) and passer rating (98.9).
Jordan Howard, RB, Chicago Bears
For the third consecutive year, no Bears player was selected to the Pro Bowl. Howard has followed up a 1,313-yard rookie season in 2016 with another 1,000-yard rushing season this year (and stats comparable to Pro Bowl picks LeSean McCoy and Mark Ingram) while establishing himself as one of the league's most dangerous running backs.
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Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite missing three games, Fournette is on pace for a 1,000-yard rushing season in his rookie year. His eight rushing touchdowns are tied for third in the NFL with Pro Bowler Le'Veon Bell.
Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee Titans
As a vital component for a Titans team that is in playoff contention, Walker is third in the NFL among tight ends in receptions and yards so far this season. However, Walker only has three touchdown catches, which likely hurt his Pro Bowl chances.
Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
Adams is following up a 997-yard, 12-touchdown season in 2016 with another impressive season. Despite playing without quarterback Aaron Rodgers for much of the season, Adams emerged as a go-to target for backup Brett Hundley and ranks second in the NFL with 10 touchdown catches.
Marvin Jones, WR, Detroit Lions
Jones already has eclipsed his career high for receiving yards with 970 this season, and his eight touchdowns are two short of a career high. Teammate Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks also warranted consideration.
Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles
Sure, six Eagles players were selected to the Pro Bowl, but a strong argument could be made for more. Kelce -- a two-time Pro Bowl pick -- anchors an offensive line for a team with the No. 3 overall offense and second-most rushing yards per game this season.
![QB - Tom Brady, New England Patriots]()
1 of 52![QB - Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles]()
2 of 52![RB - Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers]()
3 of 52![RB - Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams]()
4 of 52![FB - James Develin, New England Patriots]()
5 of 52![FB - Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers]()
6 of 52![WR - Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers]()
7 of 52![WR - DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans]()
8 of 52![WR - Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons]()
9 of 52![WR - Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings]()
10 of 52![TE - Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs]()
11 of 52![TE- Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles]()
12 of 52![OT - Alejandro Villanueva, Pittsburgh Steelers]()
13 of 52![OT - Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans]()
14 of 52![OT - Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys]()
15 of 52![OT - Trent Williams, Washington Redskins]()
16 of 52![OG - Kelechi Osemele, Oakland Raiders]()
17 of 52![OG - David DeCastro, Pittsburgh Steelers]()
18 of 52![OG - Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys]()
19 of 52![OG - Brandon Brooks, Philadelphia Eagles]()
20 of 52![C - Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers]()
21 of 52![C - Alex Mack, Atlanta Falcons]()
22 of 52![DE - Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers]()
23 of 52![DE - Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars]()
24 of 52![DE - Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings]()
25 of 52![DE - DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys]()
26 of 52![DT - Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals]()
27 of 52![DT - Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans]()
28 of 52![DT - Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles]()
29 of 52![DT - Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams]()
30 of 52![OLB - Von Miller, Denver Broncos]()
31 of 52![OLB - Jadeveon Clowney, Houston Texans]()
32 of 52![OLB - Chandler Jones, Arizona Cardinals]()
33 of 52![OLB - Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins]()
34 of 52![MLB - C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens]()
35 of 52![MLB - Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers]()
36 of 52![CB - A.J. Bouye, Jacksonville Jaguars]()
37 of 52![CB - Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars]()
38 of 52![CB - Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Vikings]()
39 of 52![CB - Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals]()
40 of 52![FS - Eric Weddle, Baltimore Ravens]()
41 of 52![FS - Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks]()
42 of 52![SS - Reshad Jones, Miami Dolphins]()
43 of 52![SS - Landon Collins, New York Giants]()
44 of 52![Punter - Brett Kern, Tennessee Titans]()
45 of 52![Punter - Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams]()
46 of 52![Kicker - Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers]()
47 of 52![Kicker - Greg Zuerlein, Los Angeles Rams]()
48 of 52![Return specialist - Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs]()
49 of 52![Return specialist - Pharoh Cooper, Los Angeles Rams]()
50 of 52![Special teamer - Matthew Slater, New England Patriots]()
51 of 52![Special teamer - Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals]()
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Damon Harrison, DT, New York Giants
Arguably the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in the league, "Snacks" was a first-team all-pro pick last season but has yet to earn that elusive Pro Bowl nod. He leads NFC defensive linemen with 66 tackles but has just 1 1/2 sacks.
Akiem Hicks, DE, Chicago Bears
Hicks has posted a career-high eight sacks in addition to being among the league leaders with 15 tackles for loss.
Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Four members of the Jaguars' stellar defense were selected to the Pro Bowl, and rightfully so. Ngakoue could have made it five from that unit and the third on the defensive line alongside Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson. His career-high 11 sacks tied for sixth-most in the NFL, and he leads the league with six fumbles forced. Ngakoue was the only player with 11 or more sacks to not make the Pro Bowl.
Blake Martinez, LB, Green Bay Packers
Martinez has been a bright spot on what has been an otherwise dismal season for the Packers' defense. He currently is tied for the NFL lead in tackles with the Washington Redskins' Zach Brown and Cleveland Browns' Joe Schobert, neither of whom was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Harrison Smith, S, Minnesota Vikings
Smith was a Pro Bowl selection in 2015 and 2016 but missed the cut this season, which is a surprise given he remains one of the top players at his position.
PHOTOS: NFL cheerleaders
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16 of 171![Olympic athlete Simone Biles warms up before the game]()
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55 of 171![Jacksonville Jaguars "Roar" cheerleaders perform during]()
56 of 171![The New Orleans Saints dance team, the Saintsations,]()
57 of 171![Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader performs during a timeout]()
58 of 171![Tennessee Titans cheerleader performs following the]()
59 of 171![Tennessee Titans cheerleaders perform during the first]()
60 of 171![Carolina Panthers cheerleaders perform at Bank of America]()
61 of 171![Week 9: Houston Texans]()
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76 of 171![Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders perform during an NFL]()
77 of 171![Week 7: Minnesota Vikings]()
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79 of 171![Week 6: Houston Texans]()
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86 of 171![Week 5: Dallas Cowboys]()
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89 of 171![A Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader performs during the]()
90 of 171![Detroit Lions cheerleaders perform during the fourth]()
91 of 171![Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers]()
92 of 171![Dallas Cowboys cheerleader performs during a timeout]()
93 of 171![Baltimore Ravens cheerleaders entertain the fans during]()
94 of 171![Week 4: New England Patriots]()
95 of 171![Denver Broncos cheerleaders perform before an NFL football]()
96 of 171![The Los Angeles Charger cheerleaders perform during]()
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98 of 171![Week 4: Houston Texans]()
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141 of 171![Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders perform during a preseason]()
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152 of 171![Oakland Raiders cheerleaders perform prior to a NFL]()
153 of 171![Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders perform during the first]()
154 of 171![Oakland Raiders cheerleaders prior to a NFL football]()
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156 of 171![Aug 19, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titan cheerleaders]()
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158 of 171![Preseason Week 2: Philadelphia Eagles]()
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161 of 171![Los Angeles Chargers cheerleaders perform during the]()
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163 of 171![Jets cheerleaders perform during the fourth quarter]()
164 of 171![The Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders perform during the]()
165 of 171![A Baltimore Ravens cheerleader performs in the second]()
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167 of 171![The Carolina Panthers cheerleaders perform during the]()
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