The NFC beat the AFC in the Pro Bowl on Sunday in Honolulu, HI, by a score of 62-35. After last year’s game, which was an embarrassment, Commissioner Roger Goodell threatened to eliminate the game altogether. This seemed to be the kick in the but that the players needed. Last year both teams went at half speed, at best. The fans were booing early in the first quarter. However, this year’s game was much better. Houston Texan defensive lineman J.J. Watt even showed off his bloody hand on the sideline, and made a comment to the commish about how the effort is there in the Pro Bowl this year.
Although the game was very high scoring as usual, it didn’t start that way. The teams were tied at 7 after the first quarter. Then the NFC exploded for 24 points in the second quarter, with New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning leading the way, with 2 touchdown passes. So the NFC took a 31-14 lead into the locker room at halftime. It wouldn’t get any better for the AFC.
In the third quarter, Seattle Seahawk rookie quarterback Russell Wilson came into the game and lit up the scoreboard. He threw 3 touchdown passes in the quarter, basically putting the game away for the NFC. The biggest question the rest of the game was who would win the MVP on the NFC team, and whether the teams would go over 100 points combined. Eli Manning threw for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Russell Wilson had 3 touchdown passes on only 10 pass attempts. Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Vincent Jackson had 2 touchdowns and 91 yards receiving. But the winner of the MVP award was Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, who dominated the offense in the first half, with 122 yards receiving and a touchdown. He would have caught a second touchdown pass, but Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin cut in front of him to catch the pass from Wilson that was intended for Rudolph.
Rudolph was among the players who mentioned that the effort was definitely there in the game, and that the Pro Bowl should remain the way it is. The players that go to the game, get to bring their whole family and spend the week before the Super Bowl in Hawaii. The players from the 2 Super Bowl teams don’t participate in the Pro Bowl, but I’m sure they don’t mind too much, because they will be playing in a much more important game the next Sunday. The Pro Bowl does get pretty good TV ratings, as well as all regular season NFL games, and especially playoff games. The Super Bowl is of course the highest rated TV show every year.
The players that go to the Pro Bowl obviously have a good time, in the game, and the whole time they are vacationing in Hawaii with their family. So the fans like the game, and the players that are chosen to go tothe game, like the game. Why would the NFL even consider eliminating the Pro Bowl? That would go in line with what many have called the NFL for years, the No Fun League. Football is the greatest and most popular American sport. Don’t screw with it. Keep the Pro Bowl for the fans and the players.
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