NFL 2015-2016 Pro Bowl Recap
For three straight years from 1992-1994, the week before the Super Bowl featured Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice in a game for the ages. The Super Bowl was an afterthought. The NFC Title Game between Irvin’s Dallas Cowboys and Rice’s San Francisco 49ers was an epic showdown.
The 2015 season has one game before the Super Bowl where Rice and Irvin are on opposite sides, and virtually nobody cares. The NFL has tried to make the Pro Bowl work. It should keep trying. Scrapping the game altogether would be a shame. The league got rid of the AFC and NFC Conferences, as Team Rice and team Irvin competed.
The game suffers because so many players refuse to play in the game. They come down with injuries, some more imagined than others. Even a coach skipped this game, although his illness seems legitimate.
On one side, Kansas City Chiefs Coach Walrus Lite Andy Reid was in charge of his eight billionth Pro Bowl. Perhaps he loves trips to Honolulu, Hawaii, although the Vince Lombardi Trophy seems to be a better destination. Green Bay Packers Coach Mike McCarthy is ill, so his assistant head coach Winston Moss is leading the other squad.
New York Giants Eli Manning led a 10 play, 75 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive and threw a 4 yard touchdown to Kelce for a 7-0 Team Rice lead. After that Team Irvin took over. Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson threw a 14 yard touchdown pass to Atlanta Falcons Julio Jones and a 6 yard touchdown to Devonta Freeman to put Team Irvin up 14-7 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Wilson found St.Louis/Los Angeles Rams Todd Gurley for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 21-7 Team Irvin. Oakland Raiders Derek Carr hit Kelce for a 10 yard touchdown to get Team Rice within 21-14. Minnesota Vikings Teddy Bridgewater found Philadelphia Eagles Darren Sproles for a 2 yard touchdown to have Team Irvin up 28-14 at halftime.
In the third quarter Team Rice moved 75 yards in 10 plays and 6 minutes. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Doug Martin ran it in from 3 yards out to get Team Rice within 28-21. Bridgewater came right back and threw a 50 yard touchdown to Robinson for a 35-21 Team Irvin lead.
Team Irvin lead. Jameis Winston took over and put the game away. Winston hooked up with Delanie Walker for a 53 yard touchdown in the third quarter and then threw a 7 yard touchdown pass to Deandre Hopkins for a 49-21 Team Irvin lead. Team Rice scored once more but got no closer. Russell Wilson was the game MVP with 3 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions. 49-27 Team Irvin
eric