The Pro Bowl Upgrade

02/06/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

NFC Tops AFC (35-33) in NFL’s First-Ever Flag Football Pro Bowl — Which Should Be Here to Stay

In a word: Different. The NFL Pro Bowl has long been a snooze-fest with a watered-down version of football’s violent game, but that wasn’t the case this year. The league’s solution? The Pro Bowl Games — a series of events concluding with 7-on-7 flag football on a 50-yard field. The linemen got to showcase their skills in a variety of ways leading up to Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas, but that’s where the league’s best skill players took over.

 

The NFC vs. AFC got a little extra flavor with the Manning brothers as acting head coaches. Eli Manning coached the NFC to a win over Peyton Manning and the AFC. It was a high-octane display of elite speed and great plays as the NFL’s most explosive athletes flew around a short field without the weight of pads to slow them down. Ultimately, the NFC won the game (35-33) after Kirk Cousins — who rallied for the win — took a knee to run out the clock much to Peyton’s dismay.

 

The stats were different. The vibe was different. Basically, everything about the Pro Bowl as we know it looked different, and I think many would agree it was an upgrade.

 

From Trevon Diggs intercepting Stefon Diggs to Derek Carr’s potential goodbye to Vegas, here are the best highlights and moments from a unique twist on the Pro Bowl.

 

Pro Bowl Games Highlights

Game 1: NFC def. AFC (33-27)

Game 2: AFC def. NFC (18-13)

Game 3: NFC def. AFC (20-12)

Aggregate Total: NFC def. AFC (35-33)

 

Additional Storylines

FOX Sports: Pro Bowl Confidential: 27 Players Pick MVP, Most Underrated, Coaches & Other Questions

NFL: 2023 Pro Bowl Games: What We Learned From Sunday’s Flag Football Games & Skill Competitions

 

Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images