Raiders cheered during Vegas Pro Bowl
LAS VEGAS — From Darius Leonard’s rambling pick-6 on the opening drive to Mac Jones’ enthusiastic Griddy dance at the two-minute warning, the Pro Bowl’s Vegas debut was a messy, chaotic show.
And Justin Herbert, Maxx Crosby and the AFC stars all won big.
Herbert hit Mark Andrews with two touchdown passes, leading the AFC to a 41-35 victory over the NFC on Sunday in the return of the Pro Bowl.
The Pro Bowl moved to Las Vegas for the first time after a four-year run in Orlando, and a less-than-capacity crowd at Allegiant Stadium mostly cheered for the Raiders and booed their AFC West rivals. Otherwise, there was a decidedly mellow vibe on the field.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to come out here and play some of the best football players this game has to offer,” Herbert said. “What an opportunity to learn more about their game, understand them, get to know them and just have some fun.”
Jones passed for 112 yards and threw a touchdown pass, and the New England rookie also did a memorable rendition of the Griddy in the first Las Vegas edition of the NFL’s annual all-star game, back from a one-year hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Herbert won the offensive MVP award after passing for 98 yards and finding the Baltimore tight end for two TDs in the first half of the Los Angeles Chargers QB’s first Pro Bowl appearance.
Crosby, from the hometown Raiders, won the defensive MVP award with two sacks, three batted passes and three tackles for loss in a sloppy game featuring seven interceptions, with at least one thrown by each of the six quarterbacks.
“I didn’t want to injure or hurt anybody, but I still wanted to have some fun and work on my game,” Crosby said. “No matter what it is, we’re still in full pads and want to have a little bit of fun.”
Aside from an early 4-yard touchdown reception by Kyle Juszczyk from Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, the 49ers made little noise in the game. In brief appearances, tight end George Kittle had four catches for 20 yards and Deebo Samuel had three catches for 17 yards. Center Alex Mack and guard Laken Tomlinson also played.
The AFC has won five consecutive Pro Bowls since the
league returned to a conference format in the 2016-17 season. Its players took home $80,000 apiece from Vegas. The NFC
players got $40,000 each.
Kyler Murray passed for 160 yards and three touchdowns for the NFC. The Arizona QB made it close when he hit Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook for a TD with 2:36 to play, trimming the AFC’s lead to six points.
Jones then got stopped on a scramble in the waning minutes, but kept running about 55 more yards to the end zone and celebrated with the Griddy, pioneered by Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson. After learning his celebration was premature, Jones hit Pittsburgh’s Najee
Harris for a first down on the next play to allow the AFC to run out the clock.
Harris, an Antioch High alum, had 15 yards rushing and a 7-yard reception to cap his rookie season.
Both teams treated the Pro Bowl with all the seriousness it deserves: Tackling to the ground was rare as both teams effectively played two-hand touch, and neither defense put up more much of a pass rush.
Las Vegas’ Hunter Renfrow got the day’s biggest single cheer when he made a tip-toe TD grab in the back of the end zone.