A team doesn't win 14 games and put themselves in a position to win their division and have the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff race with a win Sunday vs. Minnesota without a roster filled with some Pro Bowl talent.

The NFL released the Pro Bowl selections Thursday morning, and the Lions have seven players on the roster and 11 others who are alternates. It's a credit to how general manager Brad Holmes has drafted and built the roster through free agency and how head coach Dan Campbell and his staff have developed that talent.

Quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tackle Penei Sewell, center Frank Ragnow, strong safety Brian Branch and punter Jack Fox have all been named to the Pro Bowl this year. Goff, St. Brown, Sewell, Ragnow and Fox are starters.

It's the first selection for both Gibbs and Branch.

In his ninth season and fourth with Detroit, Goff, 30, is playing some of the best football of his career. He is second in the NFL in passing yards (4,398), second in passer rating (113.6), third in completion percentage (71.7) and fourth in touchdown passes (36). He's completed 75 percent of his passes in a record-tying eight contests this season. Only him and Tom Brady (2007) have accomplished that. Goff's play this year is the biggest reason why the Lions are No. 1 in scoring (33.3) and No. 2 in total offense (410.5). This is Goff's fourth career Pro Bowl nod.

Gibbs, 22, is one of the most exciting young running backs in the NFL and is now a Pro Bowler in just his second season. He's currently sixth in the NFL in rushing with 1,273 yards but his 1,759 scrimmage yards rank No. 3 behind only Saquon Barkley (2,283) and Derrick Henry (1,953). His 16 total touchdowns (13 rush, 3 rec.) are second behind only Buffalo's James Cook (17). Gibbs is averaging 5.61 yards per carry and is just the third running back in franchise history to top 1,700 scrimmage yards and 16 scrimmage touchdowns in a season (Barry Sanders in 1991; Billy Sims in 1980).

It's the third Pro Bowl selection for St. Brown, 25, in the last three seasons. He's caught 109 passes for 1,186 yards (10.9 avg.) with 12 touchdowns this season. Only Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase (16) has found the end zone more than St. Brown among receivers this year. The Goff to St. Brown connection has become one of the most consistent in the league as Goff has an 82.8 completion percentage and a 136.1 rating when targeting Brown in 2024.

Sewell, 24, earns his third straight trip to the Pro Bowl as he's become not just one of the best right tackles in football but one of the best tackles period. He is considered one of the best pound-for-pound athletes in the league today. Sewell hasn't been credited with allowing a sack this season and has only given up five quarterback hits in over 1,000 snaps played and 500-plus pass pro reps.

One of the best centers in the NFL, Ragnow, 28, is now a four-time Pro Bowler. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson credits Ragnow's preparation and football IQ playing a big part in Detroit's protection schemes as they rank in the Top 10 in the NFL in sacks allowed. Ragnow has allowed just 1.5 sacks in 547 pass-block reps, and he has a 91.2 grade as a run blocker (No. 2 among centers) by Pro Football Focus.

The lone Lions defender named to the Pro Bowl is Branch, 23, who is already one of the most versatile defensive backs in the NFL in just his second season. He's recorded 103 tackles (76 solo), 15 passes defended, eight tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, four interceptions, a sack and one forced fumble playing both strong safety and nickel corner.

Fox, 28, earns his second Pro Bowl nod and first since his second season in 2020. Fox ranks No. 1 in net punting average (46.3) and No. 2 in gross punting average (51.0) through 17 weeks. He currently has the highest gross punting average in NFL history at 48.8 yards over 276 career punts.

The Lions also had 11 players named as alternates for the Pro Bowl, as follows:

• Kick return specialist Kalif Raymond (1st alternate)
• Tight end Sam LaPorta (1st)
• Safety Kerby Joseph (2nd)
• Kicker Jake Bates (2nd)
• Guard Kevin Zeitler (3rd)
• Defensive tackle Alim McNeill (3rd)
• Running back David Montgomery (3rd)
• Tackle Taylor Decker (3rd)
• Guard Graham Glasgow (4th)
• Inside linebacker Jack Campbell (4th)
• Defensive tackle DJ Reader (7th)