Cousins, NFC win on flag day
For Kirk Cousins, it wasn’t quite the NFL-record 33-point comeback against the Colts to win the NFC North.
However, Cousins was the quarterback for a reason for the third and final flag-football game at the Pro Bowl on Sunday in Las Vegas before a crowd of 58,331.
NFC coach Eli Manning wanted Cousins in that spot to decide the overall winner, and the Vikings quarterback responded by throwing three touchdowns passes to rally the NFC to a 35-33 victory over the AFC in the Pro Bowl Games and end that conference’s five-game losing streak.
Cousins completed 15 of 19 passes for 150 yards in the NFL’s reformatted all-star contest, which gave the NFC the victory.
“It’s hard to wait around that long to play, but I appreciate Eli letting me be the third guy and fun to go in there and be the closer,” Cousins said.
Based on the earlier flag games and skills competitions, the AFC took a 21-15 lead into the final flag game.
The Pro Bowl changed its format this season, eliminating the traditional game and replacing it with three flag games played on a 50-yard field and a series of skills competitions.
Each of the first two flag games was worth six points, and each skills event was three. The total points formed the score entering the final flag game.
“I thought it was awesome,” 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey said. “Guys had fun. It got intense there at the end.”
Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams noticed the NFC took the game more seriously than expected, such as sending Cowboys safety KaVontae Turpin at the quarterback.
“Hopefully, next year the NFC will actually play some man and not sit back in cover-2 the whole time and blitz one of the fastest men in the league,” Adams said. “Interesting technique by them, but it was still a good time.”
Despite the new, safer format, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett dislocated a toe, but X-rays were negative.
Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, with the help of Bears receiver and brother Equanimeous St. Brown, topped the Bills’ Stefon Diggs to win best catch.
Panthers hire Evero as DC
The Panthers agreed to terms with Ejiro Evero to be their defensive coordinator. The 42-year-old Evero was the Broncos’ defensive coordinator last season and was one of nine candidates to interview for the Panthers’ headcoaching position before owner David Tepper hired Frank Reich.
The Broncos ranked seventh in the league in total defense in 2022 under Evero and were 14th in points allowed.
Steve Wilks was Carolina’s defensive coordinator to start the 2022 season but later was promoted to interim head coach after Matt Rhule was fired. Al Holcomb took over as interim defensive coordinator and remained in that role for the rest of the season.
Cardinals’ coaching update
The Cardinals have lined up second interviews for their headcoaching job this week with Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka (a former St. Rita and Northwestern quarterback), Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and Steelers senior defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Brian Flores.
Flores also will interview with the Broncos for their opening at defensive coordinator.
Vontae Davis busted for DUI
Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis, 34, was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence in Hollywood, Florida, after troopers say his vehicle rear-ended a pick-up truck that was on the side of a highway because of a flat tire, injuring the truck’s driver, who had been standing outside.
Davis was a three-year starter at Illinois (2006-08).