Players stand on the sidelines before the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck via USA TODAY Sports
For the second straight year, Eli Manning and the NFC have won the NFL Pro Bowl.
The 2024 edition of the games took place on February 4, with Eli Manning coaching the NFC. Meanwhile, his brother Peyton took on the AFC. Ultimately, via a combination of fun skills competitions and the final flag football match, the NFC edged out the AFC by a combined score of 64-59.
Points Style
Points were earned through the series of skills contests as well as the flag football match. In the final game, C.J. Stroud went 18-for-22 on the day with 173 yards, leading the NFC and all quarterbacks. Geno Smith led the NFC with in passing, going 15-of-21 with 154 yards.
CeeDee Lamb had three touchdown catches, and Amon-Ra St. Brown had ten catches for 117 yards, including a touchdown. Meanwhile, for the AFC, Josh Allen went off with 90 receiving yards on nine catches and three touchdowns. The AFC almost came back with a win at the very end, but the NFC made a stop at the three-yard line to end the drive.
Fun Activities
Prior to the final game, the event weekend featured a slew of wacky contests including Kick-Tak-Toe, Gridiron Gauntlet, Tug-of-War, Move the Chains, and Best Catch. There was also a pre-filmed segment where players went head-to-head in EA’s Madden 24. Micah Parsons and Puka Nacua defeated Tyreek Hill and David Njoku in that affair.
Miscommunication occurred between the coaches (Manning Brothers) and the players, as confusion regarding the new style ensued. The pass clock and rushing the passer rules had been modified for this year, which led to some “heated” moments between the brothers.
“How much did Peyton pay these refs?” Eli joked. “Ridiculous. What’d he give them, some signed memorabilia? He give them some of his cool extra pair of orange [indistinct]?”
The Pro Bowl Games had actually already been going on since Thursday, but the primary day of events was on Sunday. Now, with the Pro Bowl behind us, only one event on the NFL calendar remains: the Super Bowl, circled big and bright on calendars.
