NFL 2018-2019 Pro Bowl Recap

NFL 2018-2019 Pro Bowl Recap

Rather than play the Pro Bowl in gorgeous Honolulu, Hawaii, for the second year in a row the NFL held the game in Orlando, Florida. The game was played in the rain. The AFC got the ball first in a game with no kickoffs and very quick whistles after contact. After every score, the opposing team took over at their own 25. Jason Garrett and his Dallas Cowboys staff coached the NFC Players. The AFC squad was coached by Frank Reich and his Indianapolis Colts staff. Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs went right to work. He hit James Conner of the Steelers for 18 yards, Keenan Allen of the Chargers for another 15, his Chiefs teammate Tyreeq Hill for 12, and finally the Colts Eric Ebron for an 18 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Colts lead. The Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson began with a 36 yard bomb to the Green Bay Packers Devontae Adams. On 4th and 2 from the AFC 4 yard line, of course Jason Garrett decided to go for it. This is the Pro Bowl, where going for it is expected. There is no defense in the Pro Bowl, or so we thought. A run got stopped as the AFC defense celebrated a rare Pro Bowl goal line stand.

The AFC actually punted on their next drive, a rarity in the Pro Bowl. However, an even rarer Pro Bowl occurrence is a penalty. The defense had 12 men on the field, changing a 4th and 7 to a 4th and 2. Frank Reich went for it and Mahomes fired to Allen. However, Allen could not get his feet down inbounds as the NFC took over at the AFC 45. Between the rain and the quick whistles, the normal offensive shootout was turning into a flag football game with defense. The AFC got it back at their own 26 and Mahomes went deep to Allen for a 50 yard gain. On 3rd and 10 from the NFC 11, Mahomes hit Melvin Gordon of the Chargers for 10 yards. Anthony Sherman of the Chiefs got the last yard for the score early in the second quarter to make it 14-0 AFC. The Pro Bowl is supposed to be about quick strikes, but not this game. The AFC had a mind-numbing 17 play, 79 yard drive that took 7 1/2 minutes. Despite moving from their own 8 yard line to a 1st and goal at the 5, the AFC settled for a 31 yard field goal by New York Jets kicker Jason Myers as the AFC took a 17-0 lead to the locker rooms. In the third quarter Myers missed from 58 but tacked on a 47 yard field goal with 4 minutes left in the third quarter as the AFC led 20-0 after three quarters. In the rain, both teams saw a sure touchdown pass go for naught when the Cleveland Browns Jarvis Landry and the Dallas Cowboys Amari Cooper could not catch the ball. Several easy interceptions were also dropped. Andrew Luck and Deshaun Watson each led one goal drive for the AFC while neither Wilson or Mitchell Trubisky could get the NFC on the board.

In the fourth quarter, the AFC went for it on 4th and 9 from the NFC 37 rather than try a 55 yard field goal in the rain. Watson threw deep incomplete. The NFC went for it on 4th and 2 from their own 45. Dan Prescott was in, and he threw incomplete. Yet defensive pass interference kept the drive going. Another defensive pass interference call meant a 23 yard gain. On 4th and 5 from the AFC 20, Prescott went to Austin Hooper of the Atlanta Falcons for the touchdown. With 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the NFC was finally on the board down 20-7.  One fun part of the Pro Bowl is defensive players playing offense. With 19 seconds left, Watson threw a 6 yard touchdown pass to Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey for the touchdown to complete the scoring. The offensive MVP was Mahomes. Jamal Adams of the Jets was the defensive MVP. 26-7 AFC

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