JUST NOW: Lions send 5 players to Pro Bowl including…

 The NFC North champion Detroit Lions (still has a nice ring to it, no?) are earning respect around the league, sending five players to the Pro Bowl for the second straight season. They hadn’t done that since 1990-91.

Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, tight end Sam LaPorta, center Frank Ragnow, right tackle Penei Sewell and special teams star Jalen Reeves-Maybin all earned Pro Bowl bids for Detroit. Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown — tied with Tyreek Hill for second on the receptions list, and fifth in yards — was a surprising omission, although he is a first alternate. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is also a first alternate, while quarterback Jared Goff (second alternate), guard Jonah Jackson (third), runing back David Montgomery (fourth), punt returner Kalif Raymond (fourth) and linebacker Alex Anzalone (fifth) also made that list.

Ragnow has now been voted to back-to-back Pro Bowls and three overall, becoming just the third Lions center to accomplish that feat, joining Kevin Glover (1995-97) and Ed Flanagan (1969-71, 1973). Ragnow has allowed just one sack and 10 pressures despite playing through an inoperable toe injury all season, plus playing in Chicago just one week after undergoing surgery on his meniscus.

“Every day (after surgery) he kept telling me, ‘I’ll be ready next week, I’ll be ready next week,’” head coach Dan Campbell said. “And that’s how Frank is. Frank is going to will himself. His mind controls his body, which we talk about all the time, and the good ones can do that. He’s what you already know. He’s a tough dude. Mind over matter. Ultimately what it’s about for him, and call it what you want, but he’s terrified of letting his teammates down. That means more to him than anything. It’s just the way he is. And that’s why guys respect the hell out of him.”

The Lions sent two players to the Pro Bowl from their vaunted offensive line, with Sewell also earning a second straight nod this season — becoming the youngest Lions player ever to accomplish that. He’s allowed just one sack on 640 pass blocks this season, a stunning feat, while ranking as the No. 1 pass blocker among all offensive tackles in the league according to Pro Football Focus. He is the No. 1 player overall at the position, according to the advanced analytics service.

That’s good stuff. Even more impressively, Sewell has been at his best against the best. He allowed just one pressure on 34 pass blocks against Montez Sweat, one pressure on 21 pass blocks against Maxx Crosby, one pressure on 20 pass blocks against Danielle Hunter and two pressures on 19 pass blocks against Micah Parsonal

Those are some of the league’s elite pass rushers, and Sewell allowed no sacks on 94 snaps against them.