ORLANDO, Fla. — In a stellar showcase during the opening night of the Pro Bowl Games, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff excelled with an impressive display of skill, propelling the NFC to a 14-7 advantage over the AFC.
Goff received a bit of assistance from Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, who helped him succeed in a fun NFL trivia contest. The quarterback demonstrated his passing brilliance by completing every target thrown his way within a brisk one minute and thirty seconds, amassing a significant 44 points for the NFC—five points higher than teammate Sam Darnold from Minnesota.
The trio of Goff, Darnold, and Baker Mayfield from Tampa Bay outperformed the AFC’s lineup, which included notable names such as Joe Burrow of Cincinnati, Drake Maye from New England, and Russell Wilson of Pittsburgh.
Passing skills took center stage as the highlight of the night’s festivities, which featured six different events. The NFC also claimed victories in two out of three relay races, participated in a unique skills contest called “satisfying catches,” and engaged in a game show for NFL teammates named “helmet harmony,” reminiscent of “The Newlywed Game.”
Dodgeball matches were evenly split between the conferences, with New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams leading the AFC to victory in “the big spike” thanks to his formidable throw of a football.
Other exciting moments included the Bosa brothers—Joey and Nick—turning their relay leg into an amusing display of speed walking, while Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase made a splash with a series of impressive one-handed catches on the first three passes thrown to him during the “satisfying catches” competition.
Looking ahead, four additional skills events are set to air on Sunday, with each event worth three points. The Pro Bowl Games will culminate in a flag football match, adding even more excitement to the proceedings.
NFC coach Eli Manning expressed enthusiasm during the event, stating, “We’ve got the lead, and that’s good. It just shows the heart, the preparation, everything, the commitment of these guys. They’ve been grinding. They’re looking forward to this. They want the three-peat. (Everyone) has been talking about Kansas City next week with a three-peat. Really, all eyes are on the Pro Bowl for the three-peat (for the) NFC right now.”
