2022 PRO BOWL: AFC VS NFC

BY ADAM GREENE

Back in the day, we got the Pro Bowl the week after the Super Bowl so the guys who actually played in the big game could make the trip to then Hawaii if they wanted to. A lot of them did.

But that was back when the annual All-Star game took place in our 50^th state. For the few years before the pandemic shut down the 2020 Pro Bowl completely, it was held in Orlando. And while that city might house the Magic Kingdom, it’s not much of a draw to multimillionaire athletes.

This year, after a Covid hiatus, it’s in Las Vegas. A place where plenty of these players not suiting up for the Super Bowl would be right now anyway. So it works out for everybody.

There’s a game to be played and we’re going to bet on it because that’s what you do.

For three seasons the Pro Bowl went with “Hall of Fame” coaches, actually former players, who selected their players out of the voted in pool. Back in 2016, it went back to the old AFC vs NFC game which we all prefer. If we have to play this, let’s at least do it right.

As such, the AFC has won four consecutive Pro Bowls. The last NFC victory was in 2012.

AFC vs NFC (pk, O/U: 61.5)

Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev.

Broadcast: ESPN/ABC

Kickoff: Feb. 6, 3 p.m.

AFC

Thanks to some surprising turns of events in the AFC playoffs, the AFC unit is loaded. Justin Herbert will get the start at QB, but he’ll be spelled by Patirck Mahomes and Mac Jones, stepping in for Lamar Jackson, who is dealing with an injury. Bills quarterback Josh Allen could have gone to Vegas for Jackson, but instead decided to hit the links at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Joe Mixon of the Cincinnati Bengals will be replaced by Najee Harris and Ja’Marr Chase is moving aside for Diontae Johnson.

NFC

The NFC’s quarterback room is hurting. Both Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have bowed out of the competition. Rodgers is still trying to heal up his toe with whatever cattle medicine he can find. Brady no longer plays football. So that’s a real problem for the Pro Bowl. The top alternate, Matthew Stafford, is getting read for the Super Bowl. So that means that Kyler Murray will be joined by Kirk Cousins and Russell Wilson. The NFC will be down a couple of star wideouts themselves. Devante Adams stepped away due to injury and Cooper Kupp, the top vote getter, is in the Super Bowl. Adams will be replaced by Mike Evans and Adams by CeeDee Lamb.

THE PICK

Since this is a game no one takes too seriously and tackling is at a premium, it’s always smart to go with the better stable of quarterbacks. While Jones is a drop off from what could have taken the field for the AFC, Mahomes and Herbert should be able to do plenty. AFC 38, NFC 31

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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