NFL Pro Bowl Games and Skills Showdown | NFL Pro Bowl Weekend
The NFL Pro Bowl gave us a week to take our focus of the Super Bowl and turn our sights on Orlando, Florida as football’s best took the stage on the league’s version of their All-Star Game. The NFC beat the AFC after a series of skills challenges and a flag football game to wrap up the weekend, but that wasn’t the main story from Camping World Stadium.
No pads, still fun
The Pro Bowl has long been scrutinized for it’s lack of intensity or even competitiveness for a long time. They stopped playing game in full pads a few years ago after an embarrassing display in a game that turned into a game of touch football.
With no actual football game, the league has had to improvise and try to create fun events and skill competition. Instead of that just a side show like the NHL or NBA’s All-Star Games it makes up the whole weekend.
On Thursday they had five events between the two teams that included a Precision Passing challenge, Closest to the Pin Challenge, and Best Catch among others.
Eli tops Peyton
On Sunday the competitions continued and were played out in between quarters of the flag football game. Each event was worth three points and were added to the flag football game.
The AFC played much better in the game, but they were dreadful in the skills challenges. After all of the events, the game went down to the wire in the fourth quarter. CJ Stroud and the AFC had a chance to win, but his fourth down pass to Keenan Allen was batted down as Eli Manning and the NFC sideline erupted after sealing the victory.
There was already a decent level of competition between the two teams, and that was only fueled by the brotherly rivalry between Peyton and Eli. There were arguments with the refs, arguments among the two coaches accusations of buying off the refs, and it made for an entertaining weekend, which is saying something for the Pro Bowl.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
On 4th and Goal from the 3 Stroud's pass to Allen falls incomplete and the NFC sideline erupts as team Eli is going to win it for another year running!
Stroud found Chase over the middle with 20 on the clock and he pitched it back to the Texans QB, but the WR's flag was pulled before Stroud took it to the house.
3rd and Goal from the 15.
Stroud has the ball with a chance to win the game. He's been in this situation before. It's the rookie's time to shine.
Just when it seemed like the the NFC was in control, Mayfield's pass is tipped and picked by Hamilton!
AFC ball down 64-59 with just over 3:00 to go.
Mayfield needed a yard on 4th and short from midfield, and took it all the way inside the five to move the chains with a big scramble, but a flag guarding penalty will bring the ball back but let the NFC keep the ball with a first down.
1st and Goal after a the penalty and a brotherly argument between Eli and Peyton over which team should get the ball.
Stroud got the AFC inside the 5 with a 1st and Goal, but the NFC makes a huge stand and they turn them over on downs to keep their 64-59 lead!
NFC are in command with under 7 minutes to go.
Mayfield has this offense rolling. He drives them down the field with a big pass from LaPorta and his sidearm pass over the middle is caught for Gibbs for a TD!
NFC take the lead back but miss the conversion after Metcalf couldn't drag in the one handed catch in the end zone. NFC lead 64-59
On the first play of the 4th quarter, Minshew finds Allen on a short pass over the middle for a TD to take the lead.
Allen pass after the reverse to a WR pass was batted down by Wagner! AFC lead 59-58
The NFC didn't waste any time dragging the AFC in the pit and they made light work in the first round, and did the same thing in the second round.
NFC stretch their lead to 58-53 going into the final quarter.
We are headed to the fourth quarter with the scored snug at 58-53 in favor of the NFC.
The Tug of War contest is coming up in between quarters.
MInshew with a first down conversion with a pass over the middle to to Allen who moves the chains.
Mayfield is in the game for the first time and he drives the NFC on a long drive for four or five yards and punched the TD in with a short pass to CeeDee Lamb!
The conversion is good after Mayfield connects on a bullet to St. brown and the NFC take a 56-53 lead late in the 3rd quarter.
Garner Minshew takes over for the AFC, and some great field position sets up a Minshew pass to Allen in the endzone and the AFC retake the lead!
The conversion is no good and the AFC leads 53-48. This is going to go down to the wire!
The second half is underway! The NFC gets the ball to start the half and it's Geno starting under center for Eli's team. He got a first down on a hook up with Swift, and then on 4th and Goal from 5 yards out but Geno is picked off by Gardner!
The offensive struggles continue for the NFC.
We have the second half coming up, and there is one more skills challenge remaining. The NFC is up one with plenty to play for.
We are goin into the second round of Gridiron Gauntlet.
The NFC did the same thing they did in the first round, keeping it even until the sled push blew past the AFC to take a 48-47.
The votes are in for the Best Catch competition, and it's Puka Nacua who takes the three points for the NFC. To be fair he is the only one who caught the ball, but he it wasn't the most impressive of catches.
It's 47-45 and things are getting tight.
That was actually exhilarating. It was just about even until the final event, but on the sled push with Jason Kelce on top of the sled with four weight disks the NFC ran away from the AFC and took the three points!
The NFC have been crushing the Skills Challenges but are getting blown out in the Flag Football game. It's 47-42, with the AFC leading.
We've got another skills challenge, and it's the Gridiron Gauntlet where contestants will go through a full field obstacle course in a relay style race.
IT'S THE MADDEN HEAD-TO-HEAD up next!
This was obviously recorded earlier, and after watching the highlights Puca Nacua and Micah Parsons took on Hill and Njouku!
The NFC won it in a route for the third straight year and the score after the Madden Challenge is 47-39.
WE ARE AT HALFTIME HERE FROM ORLANDO AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE ANOTHER SKILLS CHALLENGE COMING UP.
Ray Lewis was NOT happy about that penalty!
Watch: Ray Lewis’ reaction to Pro Bowl penalty, Hurts’ response
CeeDee makes a catch at the goal line as the NFC goes down field and scores before halftime in a drive that lasted less than a half minute.
Conversion is no good and the AFC lead 47-36 with 5 seconds left. Get ready for some laterals.
PICK SIX!!!
Smith got picked off by Surtain on the left sideline and he takes it to the house! We have our first defensive TD of the day, and that gives the AFC a commanding 47-30 lead after the unsuccessful conversion.
Stroud had it with 1:33 to go in the first half and got a first down around midfield and on 4th and Goal the AFC goes into their trick book and hit Keenan Allen on the lateral and he found Engram in the back of the end zone!
Stroud with the dart back to Engram on the conversion and the AFC leads 41-30 with a half minute to go in the 1st half.
The NFC cuts into the lead on a three play drive that was capped by Smith's pass down the seem for St. Brown!
Metcalf leaps at the goal line and makes a finger tip grab for the conversion to make it a 33-30 game late in the first half.
Stroud is back under center, and he got a first down to mid field, and on first down he spins out of a blitz and throws a dime to Chase on the run on the left sideline in the end zone!
Baker picked off the conversion, so the AFC lead 33-22 late in the 2nd quarter.
On a flag filled drive against the AFC the NFC had it inside the 5, but Geno's pass in the corner of the end zone was picked off by Ward!
Another turnover by the NFC and another empty possession for Eli's guys.
Geno Smith is under center for the NFC to start the second quarter, and the NFC comes up with another stop but an illegal rush penalty on the defense will give the NFC a much needed first down.
1st down from Midfield.
Stroud hits Allen in the endzone on his second pass of the quarter and that gives the AFC the 27-22 lead after the conversion fails.
The second quarter of the Flag Football game is underway and Hurts was under pressure after a rush from Ramsey and he forces a turnover on downs!
Stroud takes over for the AFC over midfield.
The NFC pulled off their weight first and pulled the 2,000 pound wall 10 yards first!
The NFC wins another three points, and they take the 22-21 lead
The first skills event is the Move the Chains contest. Five players will be racing to remove the weight plates off the wall and push the wall 10 yards.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER!
That means we are coming up to our first skills event with the AFC leading 21-19.
On the next play after the turnover on downs, Tua finds Chase in the end zone and he gives us a Pro Bowl version of the gritty.
The conversion was no good, but the AFC take the lead back, 21-19.
Hurts tried a pass back off a lateral to CeeDee but Hurts couldn't come down with the catch and a few plays later on 4th down Hurts was flagged for holding on to the ball for too long! He's got to get it off in under 4 seconds and that has sparked a debate between Peyton, Eli and the refs.
AFC get the ball back knocking on the door of the end zone.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!
We have our first defensive stand of the game! Tua's 4th down pas from five yards out was almost picked by Shaheed! He would have taken that all the way!
NFC get the ball back deep in their own territory holding a four point lead.
Tua back under center and he found Allen over the middle, he then lateraled it for Hill who lateraled it for Tua who got to mid field.
AFC as first and Goal from mid field.
Hurts is the starting QB for the Eagles and he hits Ferguson with a couple short throws and then goes to the end zone for for CeeDee Lamb on the left side!
The two point conversion is good as Hurts finds his back field teammate Swift. NFC lead 19-15 from Orlando.
Tua and the AFC start the game with the ball and on the second play of the drive Tua hits his WR Hill to races into the endzone!!!
The AFC takes a lead 15-12 but missed the two point conversion.
SUNDAY IS UNDERWAY FROM ORLANDO AS THE NFC AND AFC SQUARE OFF AND IT'S THE FLAG FOOTBALL STARTING US OFF!
National anthem sung by Army Reserve Officer
The national anthem has been sung, the weather is great. Let's get these Games started!
Flag Football
After the half hearted last few full contact Pro Bowl games failed to deliver any sort of excitement in the last few years of it’s existence, the league decided to swap the game to a much less dangerous 7 on 7 football game. Gone are the days of Sean Taylor laying out a punter on a fake field goal attempt. Gone are the days of players putting on the pads and getting into three point stance. This version of Pro Bowl football is a bit diluted but we are still bound to see some spectacular plays. Just no hitting.
Tug of War
You’ve played it. I’ve played it. Everyone in the world had probably played it at one point in their life. What not everyone has done is play against some of the strongest guys on earth. Luckily we don’t have to participate as 5 of the beefiest dudes on each team go toe-to-to in a a good ole fashioned Tug-of-War Showdown. It’s a new event added to the line up of events during Pro Bowl weekend, so bragging rights will be on the line tonight.
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Gridiron Gauntlet
This event will feature six players from each team competing in a full field relay race filled with obstacles. Once on player finishes the next begins and the team with the quickest time will be awarded the three points. This is how It looked last year.
Kick Tac Toe
A kicker from each respective conference (in the AFC Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens and in the NFC Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Mavericks) will play a kicking version of Tic-Tac-Toe. They will take turns kicking field goals in attempts to connect three squares, or hitting five total squares.
Word on the the street is this event is already over, but I won't ruin the surprise just yet.
Best Catch
It was David Njoku and Puka Nacua in the best catch competition that was taped off site and aired on Thursday. Nacua went to a local water park and caught a ball while riding a wake board. While it sound cool, it really wasn’t that impressive. Njoku didn’t make the catch, but his attempt was incredible. He swung from a rope, back flipped and almost made the catch before entering the water. The voting is still open, and results could have an impact on who ends up winning the Pro Bowl Games.
Madden Head-to-Head
The players go from the field to the joy sticks for the Madden head-to-head challenge. Two players from the NFC and two players from the AFC will square off on the big screen fighting for three points in a pre filmed segment from Orlando.
How it works
There are a series of five remaining events that teams, or players from each conference compete in. For every event won the team or players will earn points for their conference. Those points will be added up at the end of the night, and then carry over to the Flag Football game to end the weekend.
We are live from the Pro Bowl
Hello everyone and welcome to Orlando as we get set to kick off the final day of Pro Bowl Weekend. Eli Manning’s NFC team holds a 12-6 lead after Thursday’s rounds of events. It’s time to see some of the best athletes in the world take a load off, have some fun while demonstrating their super natural athleticism. It will be all smiles from Camping World Stadium, but don’t think for a second that the players competing in the remaining events and the Flag Football finale. These guys are naturally born competitors, and will want to put on a show, but walk away as winners before heading into the offseason. Here are the list of events that await us:
Pro Bowl Games
It’s the week before Super Bowl Sunday, and you know what that means. While the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers prepare for the big game, we set our sights on Orlando, Florida where the the biggest stars in the league will put their skills on display from Camping World Stadium. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage and highlights as we sit back and enjoy the second day of the Skills Challenge and the Flag Football game that will bring the Pro Bowl weekend to and end.