In case you missed it, here’s some of the highlights from the AFC/NFC matchup. From beautiful catches to wacky laterals, there sure was a lot in store for the best players in the NFL. While the result was NFC on top, the best in the business got creative and dug deep to make this Pro Bowl one for the books.
8. Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge
We'll start a bit slow with a game that (almost) everyone loves: dodgeball. Between the big guys throwing as hard as they can and everyone else ducking for cover, it was an intense matchup. The AFC couldn’t dodge a wrench or a ball as Saquon Barkley was the last man standing. He really channeled his inner Average Joe and taught the AFC a lesson. Luckily for them, they were using those soft foam balls instead of the rubber kickballs that really leave a mark (both physically and emotionally).
7. Ja’marr Chase… What a catch
This “Satisfying Catches” challenge was geared toward those wide receivers and one-handed catchers and really gave them a chance to show off. In this challenge, the player had to make catches from various distances—some with just one hand, some while wearing mascot hands, and some while diving onto a mat. Chase impressed by making three consecutive one-handed catches, making it look as easy as Beyonce collecting Grammys.
6. Nick Bosa’s quads vs the AFC
Sometimes the big guys and linebackers get lost drawing the regular season and aren’t given as much attention, but these Pro Bowl games gave them the perfect stage to pull some attention their way. They don't do the diving catches (though I'm sure they’d love to try), but that is why Tug of War was the perfect edition to this year's Pro Bowl Games. The NFC won the first 2 rounds but ended up taking a spill on their second victory. Nick Bosa’s quads anchoring the front and a combined total of 1,540 pounds sent the NFC team propelling backward into a massive dog pile.
5. The Great Football Race
One of the most entertaining events was The Great Football Race where even the kickers were involved. The teams had long snappers knocking down bowling pins, the big boys flipping tires and kickers doing what they do best, but what really stole the show was Peyton and Eli Manning being pushed on sleds to finish off the race. It was almost majestic with their hair— or at least Eli’s— blowing in the wind. They rode their chariots to the finish line where the NFC was victorious.
4. Peyton Manning: Super Bowl Champion, Foam Pit Survivor
This foam pit deserves its own moment. One of the best parts of the whole Pro Bowl was watching these 250 pound slabs of muscle try to climb their way out of the seemingly bottomless pit. NFC’s coach Eli Manning took advantage of the soft landing and pushed his brother and AFC coach Peyton Manning into the pit after the NFC showed their dominance in the tug of war contest. It took his old bones a second to get out, but eventually, he made it out alive. Out of all of Peyton's achievements —2 Super Bowls, numerous MVP awards and being the number one draft pick in 1998—getting out of the foam pit seemed like one of his greatest challenges. There's no playbook for that!
3. The lateral play that got away
The NFC had a less-than-successful lateral to end the first half that lasted a total of 18 seconds which is a long time for one play. Eventually, the refs finally blew the whistle and ended the madness. At one point, the ball was even thrown to Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, who wanted nothing to do with the play and was on both knees in the middle of the field with his hands in the air as if to say, “No don’t throw the ball to me. I don’t want it.”
2. Punters are people too!
The perfect punt competition was by far one of the most exciting events that took place. Various punters would compete in a skee-ball-esque event and had to punt the ball into the bucket. After all of the rounds, the AFC and NFC were both tied, and it all came down to Logan Cooke and Jack Fox. At the end of OT and 3 rounds of sudden death, it was Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke who kicked it into high gear and landed the final blow, leading the AFC to victory in this event.
1. All hands on deck: sidelines are just a suggestion
At the very end of the flag football game, Jahmyr Gibbs grabbed an interception in the NFC’s end zone. It was only seconds before chaos broke loose. WIth the nickname “Sonic”, no one could catch him as he made it all the way to the 30 yard line. It wasn't until right around there when the AFC players that were on the sideline decided to take matters into their own hands. Forget about the phrase “Put me in, Coach!” They did it themselves. This turned into a handful of hopeless laterals and left both the AFC and NFC with smiles plastered on their faces.