AFC rallies but can’t catch NFC for the win
For the second year in a row, the NFC is the winner of the Pro Bowl Games.
Thanks to a dominant showing in the skills competitions, the NFC also had a late scoring flurry in the second half of the flag football game to win the overall competition, 64-59. The AFC was outscored by 19-6 in the final quarter and a half, even though the AFC ended up winning the flag football game 50-34.
The result is also a nice little payday for the NFC players, each of whom takes home a bonus of $80,000 – as opposed to the AFC players, who bring in half of that. The entire event started Thursday and was held in Orlando, Florida, with the flag football game and some of the final events on Sunday held in Camping World Stadium.
The winners and losers:
WINNERS
The fun level for the players
Whatever your thoughts might be on the format, it’s clear the players enjoyed the experience, even in the other events. A perfect example came early in the flag football game. NFC starting quarterback Jalen Hurts (Eagles) fired a quick pass to Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb, who was met with a charging cornerback. As Lamb escaped, Hurts had leaked out to the left side of the field on a wheel route, where Lamb threw a perfectly placed ball for Hurts. Hurts mistimed his jump and the pass slipped through his outstretched hands as he tumbled to the turf. Hurts, Lamb, NFC coach Eli Manning and most players on the field immediately laughed, in what made for a nice moment on the broadcast. While the viewing experience perhaps remains a little disjointed, the Pro Bowl should be a reward for the players who earned their nominations. At the very least, that experience came through.
CeeDee Lamb and Keenan Allen
It’s hard to extrapolate any conclusions actually pertaining to football, but a pair of receivers – one from each conference – each had nice showings in the flag football game. For the NFC, Lamb hauled in five catches for 44 yards with a team-high three receiving touchdowns. For the AFC, Keenan Allen also had three receiving scores but also had a passing touchdown on a 7-yard trick play to Jaguars tight end Evan Engram and led the AFC in both catches (nine) and receiving yards (90).
NFC dominates skills challenges
Give credit to the NFC for being far more focused on the skills competitions throughout the entire weekend. The NFC absolutely controlled, winning all but one skills competition event, the kick tic-tac-toe. In all, the NFC outscored the AFC 30-9 in all the skills competitions, making it the primary reason the NFC won the entire event.
LOSERS
The best catch event
Just like last year, this was easily the most disappointing and underwhelming event. It was a previously recorded event shown on tape delay. It only featured two players, one from each conference, and there was no buildup, erasing any hope of tension or drama. And while it’s an event perhaps trying to simulate the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest, it just does not create very much interest or excitement. It needs to be completely reimagined.
Maybe it’s time for someone other than the Mannings
For the second year in a row, the Manning brothers coached both Pro Bowl teams, Peyton for the AFC and Eli for the NFC. The Mannings, even in retirement, have become fixtures in the NFL season, with their endorsements and presence on the ESPN “ManningCast” show during “Monday Night Football.” They are very skilled at being on camera for funny soundbites, but we’re at the point where Manning fatigue might be setting in.
If we may offer a couple of suggestions: former Seahawk great Marshawn Lynch for the NFC and former journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick for the AFC, both of whom have done plenty of media and would inject freshness into the Pro Bowl.