NFL Pro Bowl produces fireworks
AFC wins fourth straight game behind MVPs Jackson, Campbell.
The AFC made it four in a row over the NFC on Sunday during a 38-33 win in the highest-scoring NFL Pro Bowl game since 2016.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson tossed two touchdown passes in the first half and Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell forced a fumble on a sack in the fourth quarter to earn Most Valuable Player honors in front of an announced crowd of 54,024 at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.
“I’m happy we finished the season off with a [win] instead of a [loss], and I’m going to cherish this forever,” Jackson said.
The teams traded leads late in the third quarter before Campbell jarred the ball loose on a sack of Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins. T.J. Watt scooped up the fumble and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown to extend the AFC advantage to 38-27 with 10 minutes, 29 seconds to play.
Cousins connected with Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams for a 13-yard touchdown — the first of two scores between the division rivals — to give the NFC a brief 27-24 lead with nearly three minutes to go in the third. The AFC quickly responded to take the advantage for good at 31-27 when Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill hooked up with Jaguars wideout DJ Chark Jr. for a 60-yard score.
“It’s been a lot of fun this week, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to come out and get to know these guys and experience this with my family,” Tannehill said.
The AFC scored 17 points in the second quarter to build a 24-14 advantage at halftime.
Jackson rebounded from an early interception on the AFC’s opening drive by connecting with Buffalo Bills WR Andre Rob
erts and Ravens teammate Mark Andrews for touchdowns. The 3-yard reception by Andrews, who finished with a game-high nine receptions for 73 yards, knotted the score at 14-14 with less than five minutes to play in the first half.
Jackson finished 16-of-23 passing for 185 yards. The only hiccup came when he was intercepted in the end zone on a diving effort by Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker.
Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson took over for Jackson late in the first quarter. He capped his first drive with a 13-yard TD pass to Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle with 53 seconds left in the half.
Ravens kicker Justin Tucker added a 50-yard field goal as time expired.
The NFC chipped into the deficit when Vikings safety Harrison Smith picked off Watson at the 3-yard line on the first possession of the second half. Smith promptly bounced up from the turf and ran 36 yards before pitching the ball to Philadelphia
Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who rumbled 61 yards down the middle of the field to make it a 24-21 game.
The AFC was intercepted for the third time by Green Bay Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith to end the third quarter. Smith also tallied a game-high two sacks and forced a fumble. The turnover came just two plays after Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Joe Haden picked off a pass thrown by Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Ravens safety Earl Thomas III intercepted Cousins on a unique play after he threw a 4-yard TD pass to Adams for the game’s final points with less than five minutes remaining. The NFC then opted to utilize a new Pro Bowl rule that gives the scoring team the option of taking possession at its own 25-yard line for a 4th-and-15 play in place of an onside kick.
Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith led all players with nine solo tackles. Former UCF standout and current Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin had three solo tackles in his first Pro Bowl.
Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller and Jaguars rookie defensive end Josh Allen each had a sack for the AFC. Allen also blocked an extra point attempt late in the third quarter.
“It’s a great feeling to be back here,” said Allen, who blocked a field goal for the University of Kentucky in a 2019 Citrus Bowl win in Orlando. “I had a great time, and I’m glad we won. It’s nice to be able to say I finished my rookie season with a win.”
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson surrendered his starting spot to Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints “as a show of respect,” as was announced in the press box before the start of the game.
Brees put the NFC in front 7-0 with five minutes to play in the first quarter on a 16-yard pass over the middle to Saints teammate Michael Thomas. Wilson, who was sacked on his first play under center, found Cowboys WR Amari Cooper in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard score that gave the NFC a 14-7 lead.
“It was just out of respect for who he is,” said Wilson. “All the years he’s played this game, he deserves it.”