2023 Pro Bowl Preview

We are finally here. The whole year we have been waiting for this moment, the biggest weekend of the year. It is finally time to preview the Pro Bowl!

All jokes aside, why not tune into some fun events going on this week and weekend. The NFL stars are heading to Vegas to participate in a variety of games including a flag football game to determine the winning league. Obviously, there are a ton of players sitting out or injured who won’t be participating, but let’s go over what is going on this weekend for the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl.

Each skill competition will earn winning teams three points toward conference total. The winning conference of the first two flag football games will earn six points toward their total. Lastly, the score from the skills competition and first two flag football games will be added and will be the starting scoring of the final and third flag football game.

Starting at 7 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN, we will have the following events: 

Events and players participating in events are as of Thursday morning.

5 v 5 Dodgeball

AFC: Ja’Marr Chase, Nick Chubb, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Tyreek Hill
NFC: Saquon Barkley, Dalvin Cook, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, Jalen Ramsey
Lean: NFC, Parsons loves the Pro Bowl Games and will push team to victory (see 40-yard dash last year)

Lightning Round

16 teammates from each conference compete in a three-round elimination-style challenge.

1st Round: Splash Catch (water balloon toss)
2nd Round: High Stakes (catching punts from JUGS machine)
3rd Round: Thrill of the Spill (here players aim at targets attached to a bucket hanging above the head of an opposing coach’s head, trying to dump the water in the bucket on the coach)

Longest Drive

Four players from each conference will take three swings at a golf ball to see who can hit the furthest.

Precision Passing: Two QBs from each conference throw and one skill player in an accuracy competition attempting to hit targets
AFC: All three QBs in play
NFC: All three QBs in play
Lean: AFC, simply because they have Trevor Lawrence, who is by far the best thrower of the football out all QBs in attendance

Best Catch

Players will submit pre-recorded videos from venues around Las Vegas.

AFC: Pat Surtain, Stefon Diggs
NFC: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson
Lean: NFC, Jefferson makings every catch possible, could see him catching a ball off the Bellagio

Starting at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, the following events will occur: 

Gridiron Gauntlet

Relay race with six players from each team involving walls, tables, tires and sleds.

Move the Chains

Pulling a wall filled with weights 10 yards in the quickest time possible.

‘Kick Tac Toe’

Involving each conference punter, kicker and long snapper — winner will be determined by who hits three in a row or five total.

Flag Football

The final flag football game will be the last event and ultimately determine the winning team. Here are the rules and teams for the game.

Rules:

• Seven skill-position players on the field
• 50-yard fields with 10-yard end zones
• Two 10-minute halves
• Touchdowns worth six, with choice of going for one or two

Teams

AFC Roster by Position

QB: Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
RB: Derrick Henry, Titans
WR: Davante Adams, Raiders
WR: Stefon Diggs, Bills
WR: Tyreek Hill, Dolphins
WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals
LB: Bradley Chubb, Dolphins
LB: C.J. Mosley, Jets
LB: Roquan Smith, Ravens
CB: Sauce Gardner, Jets
S: Derwin James, Chargers
S: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers

NFC Roster by Position

QB: Kirk Cousins, Vikings
RB: Saquon Barkley, Giants
RB: Christian McCaffrey, 49ers
WR: Justin Jefferson, Vikings
WR: CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys
TE: George Kittle, 49ers
LB: Micah Parsons, Cowboys
LB: Fred Warner, 49ers
CB: Jalen Ramsey, Rams
CB: Trevon Diggs, Cowboys
CB: Jaire Alexander, Packers
S: Talanoa Hufanga, 49ers