OK, folks, I’m starting this article out with a hot take…the 2023 Pro Bowl Games which occurred yesterday was actually a surprisingly fun event!
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 05: Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills and AFC competes in the Best Catch event during the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games at Allegiant Stadium on February 05, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
Instead of getting a football game where the players didn’t care (because they don’t want to get injured), they decided to change things up. So they got rid of a regular football game where the guys don’t try…and revamped the Pro Bowl as an Olympic-style event with three flag football games and multiple, football-oriented, skills challenges in between each game.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 05: NFC players compete in the Move The Chains event during the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games at Allegiant Stadium on February 05, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The result was something of a cross between the NBA All Star weekend, the MLB Home Run Derby, and the NFL Pro Bowl (obviously). And guess what? It was damn entertaining! The flag football games were all very competitive with players giving real effort. The NFC won two outta three (including the third and final game). And the skills challenges were unique and fun…with the players giving it their all in those events as well.
I’ll take this format over a really, really, bad football game in Hawaii any day! Check out the video highlights below! I hope they stick with this format!
– Davey Mac
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 05: AFC head coach Peyton Manning and NFC head coach Eli Manning meet on the field after the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games at Allegiant Stadium on February 05, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)