Football
NFL.com breaks down what you need to know from all of Tuesday’s action at the Pro Bowl Games. The fourth annual Pro Bowl Games for the first time took place this year during Super Bowl week at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO —
David Ely’s takeaways:
1) Cowboys, Eagles lead NFC to comeback win. NFC East rivals banding together for game-winning plays? Only in the Pro Bowl Games. Star players from Dallas and Philadelphia put aside their regular season differences to spearhead a dramatic comeback for the NFC on Tuesday night in San Francisco. A whopping four Cowboys players combined to catch five TDs with KaVontae Turpin” data-link=”http://www.nfl.com/players/kavontae-turpin/” data-slug=”kavontae-turpin”>KaVontae Turpin, George Pickens” data-link=”http://www.nfl.com/players/george-pickens/” data-slug=”george-pickens”>George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb” data-link=”http://www.nfl.com/players/ceedee-lamb/” data-slug=”ceedee-lamb”>CeeDee Lamb nabbing the final three scores of the game as the NFC roared back from a 52-36 third-quarter deficit to improve to 4-0 in this iteration of the Pro Bowl Games. In the second half, NFC coach Jerry Rice deployed a two-QB system of Jalen Hurts” data-link=”http://www.nfl.com/players/jalen-hurts/” data-slug=”jalen-hurts”>Jalen Hurts (three TD passes on the night) and Dak Prescott” data-link=”http://www.nfl.com/players/dak-prescott/” data-slug=”dak-prescott”>Dak Prescott (four TDs) that proved tough for the AFC to stop. On consecutive drives in the second half, Hurts took a red zone snap, quickly pitched the ball to Prescott, who found a Dallas receiver for six. The second of those plays resulted in a Pickens TD that gave the NFC its first lead since the opening stanza and led to Pickens claiming Offensive MVP honors. The AFC had a chance to tie the game on the ensuing possession, but Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr.” data-link=”http://www.nfl.com/players/antoine-winfield-jr/” data-slug=”antoine-winfield-jr”>Antoine Winfield Jr. intercepted Joe Burrow” data-link=”http://www.nfl.com/players/joe-burrow/” data-slug=”joe-burrow”>Joe Burrow in the end zone to end the AFC’s last threat of the game — a play that earned Winfield Defensive MVP.
2) Pro Bolles Games. Flag football is a perfect sport for players to dabble in positional switches, and perhaps no player made more of this opportunity than Garett Bolles. The Broncos star left tackle became one of the AFC’s top red zone threats on Tuesday. After having a two-point conversation catch nullified by a penalty, Bolles showed that he was no gimmick, catching a 1-yard TD from Shedeur Sanders and then hauling in a two-pointer from Joe Burrow later in the quarter. Bolles wasn’t the only player to give coaches something to think about this offseason. Ja’Marr Chase, while moonlighting as a safety, had one of the plays of the day when he intercepted Jared Goff — a one-handed pick, no less! — and then took off 50 yards for a TD by somersaulting into the end zone. NFL Research pointed out that Chase is no stranger to making plays on “defense” as he recorded three tackles during a game this past season.
3) “Motorized” Micah steals the show. Known for his tenacious pass rushing, Packers star Micah Parsons flashed a different kind of motor on Tuesday. Currently recovering from a torn ACL that prematurely ended his first season in Green Bay, Parsons spent the night speeding around the field on a rascal scooter he dubbed “Lightning McQueen.” Celebrating big plays, chiming in on a key first-down decision in the first quarter, Parsons and his scooter were everywhere.
4) Los Angeles Olympics preview on display in S.F.? AFC coach Steve Young kicked off the evening with a spirited pregame speech, imploring his team of all-stars that a gold medal could be in their futures. Flag football makes its debut as an Olympic sport in two years as part of the L.A. 2028 Games, and Tuesday marked the first Pro Bowl Games since owners passed a resolution permitting NFL players to participate in the L.A. Olympics. A number of players have expressed interest in participating, and Tuesday offered a good opportunity to stake their claim for a spot. Could Pickens and Winfield add a gold medal to their Pro Bowl MVPs? We’ll find out in two years.
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