The sorriest division in football will be represented by four players, as a St. Louis Ram, an Arizona Cardinal, and two San Francisco 49ers were named to the 2011 NFC Pro Bowl roster ahead of the January 30 contest at Aloha Stadium. Running back Steven Jackson of the Rams, Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson, and 49ers defenders Patrick Willis and Justin Smith were named to the roster to represent the NFC West, which will be won, this weekend, by a team with either seven or eight wins.
Jackson leads the NFL in rushing attempts and carries 1196 yards into his final game of the regular season. Wilson has two interceptions and two sacks. Willis has a career-high six sacks in his fourth season since being chosen with the 11th pick of the 2007 NFL draft, and Justin Smith has 5.5. All have been Pro Bowlers at least once before.
The NFC West’s total of four is matched or exceeded by nine teams: the Baltimore Ravens, the Indianapolis Colts, the New England Patriots, the Atlanta Falcons, the Chicago Bears, the Dallas Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, and the Philadelphia Eagles.