Nine Baltimore Ravens, including two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, were selected for the Pro Bowl Games on Thursday.

The Detroit Lions are next with seven players and the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles each have six players on the NFC roster.

Patrick Mahomes wasn’t selected to the AFC roster for the first time since becoming Kansas City’s starting quarterback in his second season. Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl MVP and six-time Pro Bowl pick, wasn’t among five Chiefs chosen. Teammate Travis Kelce made it for the 10th time.

Washington’s Jayden Daniels is just the fourth rookie quarterback since 1970 selected to the initial Pro Bowl roster. Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse are the other rookies among 24 players chosen for the first time.

Detroit’s Jared Goff is the NFC’s starting quarterback and Minnesota’s Sam Darnold also made the team. The AFC’s starting quarterback is Buffalo’s Josh Allen. Jackson and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow are the backups.

Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley, who became the ninth player to rush for 2,000 yards, is the NFC’s starting running back.

San Francisco’s Kyle Juszczyk was selected to his ninth Pro Bowl, the most ever by a fullback. Indianapolis’ Quenton Nelson is the third offensive lineman since 1970 to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven career seasons.

Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase is the fourth wide receiver to be selected in each of his first four seasons. Dallas’ Micah Parsons is the first defensive player chosen in each of his first four seasons since Aaron Donald went to 10 straight.

Wide receiver Zay Flowers, safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, fullback Patrick Ricard and inside linebacker Roquan Smith are the other Ravens.

Safety Brian Branch, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, center Frank Ragnow, right tackle Penei Sewell, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and punter Jack Fox join Goff from the Lions.

The Dolphins, Jets, Titans and Saints are the only teams not represented.

This is the third year of the Pro Bowl Games after the NFL eliminated its full-contact all-star game and replaced it with weeklong skills competitions and a flag football game.

The games will take place at Central Florida and finish with a seven-on-seven flag football game between the AFC and NFC at Camping World Stadium on Feb. 2.

Peyton and Eli Manning again will be head coaches for the two conferences.

Browns turn to quarterback No. 40

Bailey Zappe will be quarterback No. 4 and No. 40 for the Browns.

He was selected by coach Kevin Stefanski to start Saturday’s season finale at Baltimore, making him the fourth quarterback to start this season and the 40th since Cleveland returned to the NFL as an expansion team in 1999.

Zappe was signed off Kansas City’s practice squad in October after Deshaun Watson ruptured his Achilles tendon. The 25-year-old will be making his ninth career start — he’s 4-4 — after playing in eight games while with New England.

Earlier this week, Stefanski said he would likely play both Zappe and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA) against the Ravens (11-5), who will clinch the AFC North title if they take care of the Browns (3-13).

Stefanski informed both QBs of his decision at starter following Thursday’s practice.

Last season, Stefanski was forced to start five quarterbacks because of injuries, and the Browns still made the playoffs. This season, he’s already played Watson, Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston, who has been dealing with a sore right shoulder and is questionable this week.

Zappe’s start will continue an odd tradition of new QBs starting the season finale for Cleveland. In the past, Connor Shaw, Thaddeus Lewis, Bruce Gradkowski and Jeff Driskel are among a group of QBs who made their only starts for the Browns in the final week.

Thursday night ratings are up

Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” package averaged 13.22 million viewers, a 13% increase over last season.

The 16-game package, which included a game on Black Friday, saw 91.1 million unique viewers in the U.S. tune in for at least one of the games, according to Nielsen. That is a sizable increase over the nearly 72 million who watched the first season in 2022.

According to Nielsen, 11 games averaged over 12 million viewers, five more than last season. All of the games averaged at least 10 million for the first time.

Jets interview Rivera

The New York Jets interviewed former Washington and Carolina coach Ron Rivera, the first known head coaching candidate to meet with the team.

ESPN analyst and former NFL safety Louis Riddick also interviewed with the team for their general manager vacancy. Riddick, who previously worked in the front offices of Washington and Philadelphia, is the fourth known GM candidate to meet with the Jets.

Rivera went 26-40-1 during a four-year stint with the Commanders, leading Washington to the playoffs during his first season with the team in 2020.

Rodgers not ready to decide on future

Aaron Rodgers was in a reflective mood as he prepares for what could be his last game with the Jets.

And of his impressive 20-year NFL career.

“Yeah, of course,” Rodgers said when asked if he has considered that the season finale Sunday against Miami could also be it for him. The 41-year-old quarterback insisted, though, he’s not ready to make a call on his playing future.

“I just need a break mentally to kind of refresh and put my feet in the sand,” he said. “And see where I’m at after that.”

Still, he very much sounded as though he doesn’t necessarily expect to be back with the Jets — even if he does want to continue playing.

“I mean, gratitude, honestly,” Rodgers said of his time in New York, repeating that sentiment throughout his 10-minute chat with reporters. “It’s been the best two years of my life.”

Rodgers said he fell in love with the game of football again after 18 years in Green Bay and cherishes the relationships he has made in the Jets organization.