Kirk Cousins rallies NFC to 35-33 win over AFC in Pro Bowl

Feb 5, 2023, 1:46 AM | Updated: Feb 6, 2023, 6:05 am

AFC wide receiver Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills makes a catch during the best catch football ev...

AFC wide receiver Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills makes a catch during the best catch football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

(AP Photo/David Becker)


              AFC wide receiver Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills makes a catch during the best catch football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              NFC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions makes a catch during the best catch football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC fullback Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch as AFC middle linebacker Roquan Smith (18) of the Baltimore Ravens defends during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC tight end George Kittle, left, of the San Francisco 49ers, and defensive end Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints hold the trophy after the NFC defeated AFC at the NFL Pro Bowl games, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas(AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC captain Pete Davidson, right, reacts as he stands next to head coach Eli Manning and the trophy after the NFC defeated AFC at the NFL Pro Bowl games, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              NFC tight end George Kittle (85) of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown with NFC wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the AFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              AFC wide receiver Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills competes in the Best Catch football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              AFC wide receiver Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills makes a catch during the best catch football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              NFC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions makes a catch during the best catch football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC fullback Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch as AFC middle linebacker Roquan Smith (18) of the Baltimore Ravens defends during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC tight end George Kittle, left, of the San Francisco 49ers, and defensive end Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints hold the trophy after the NFC defeated AFC at the NFL Pro Bowl games, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas(AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC captain Pete Davidson, right, reacts as he stands next to head coach Eli Manning and the trophy after the NFC defeated AFC at the NFL Pro Bowl games, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              NFC tight end George Kittle (85) of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown with NFC wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the AFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              AFC wide receiver Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills competes in the Best Catch football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              AFC coach Peyton Manning, left, jokes with NFC coach Eli Manning after the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) of the Detroit Lions makes a catch during the best catch event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith (55) of the Minnesota Vikings reacts during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the AFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              NFC cornerback Trevon Diggs of the Dallas Cowboys, right, runs with the ball after intercepting a pass off his brother, AFC wide receiver Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills, left, during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              AFC wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) of the Miami Dolphins makes a catch during the flag football event against the NFC at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              AFC tight end Mark Andrews (89) of the Baltimore Ravens, left, celebrates a touchdown with teammate AFC quarterback Tyler Huntley (2) of the Baltimore Ravens during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) of the Dallas Cowboys, celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the AFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC tight end George Kittle (85) of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the AFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC tight end George Kittle (85) of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown with NFC wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the AFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              AFC wide receiver Davante Adams (17) of the Las Vegas Raiders runs with the ball as NFC strong safety Budda Baker (3) of the Arizona Cardinals and NFC middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) of the San Francisco 49ers defend during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              NFC quarterback Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks throws a pass during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the AFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              AFC tight end Mark Andrews (89) of the Baltimore Ravens makes a touchdown catch in the end zone during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the NFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) of the Minnesota Vikings reacts with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the AFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              AFC middle linebacker C.J. Mosley of the New York Jets, left, grabs a flag off NFC return specialist KaVontae Turpin (9) of the Dallas Cowboys during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              AFC defensive tackle Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries AFC wide receiver Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the NFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              NFC return specialist KaVontae Turpin of the Dallas Cowboys is stopped by AFC middle linebacker C.J. Mosley of the New York Jets during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
            
              NFC quarterback Geno Smith (7) of the Seattle Seahawks reacts alongside NFC return specialist KaVontae Turpin (9) of the Dallas Cowboys during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              AFC tight end Dawson Knox of the Buffalo Bills, right, celebrates a two-point conversion with teammates center Mitch Morse of the Buffalo Bills, left, and running back Derrick Henry (22) of the Tennesse Titans during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              AFC coach Peyton Manning, left, talks with NFC coach Eli Manning during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              NFC defensive end Brian Burns (53) of the Carolina Panthers competes in the gridiron gauntlet event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
            
              AFC wide receiver Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders, center, pitches the ball back to AFC wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) of the Miami Dolphins as NFC cornerback Jalen Ramsey of the Los Angles Rams defends during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — For Kirk Cousins, it wasn’t quite the NFL-record 33-point comeback against the Indianapolis Colts to win the NFC North.

However, Cousins was the quarterback for the third and final flag football game at the Pro Bowl on Sunday for a reason.

NFC coach Eli Manning wanted Cousins in that spot to decide the overall winner, and the Minnesota Vikings QB responded by throwing three touchdowns passes to rally the NFC to a 35-33 victory over the AFC in the Pro Bowl Games and end that conference’s five-game losing streak.

Cousins completed 15 of 19 passes for 150 yards in the NFL’s reformatted all-star contest, which gave the NFC the victory.

“It’s hard to wait around that long to play, but I appreciate Eli letting me be the third guy and fun to go in there and be the closer,” Cousins said.

Based on the earlier flag games and skills competitions, the AFC took a 21-15 lead into the final flag game.

The Pro Bowl changed its format this season, eliminating the traditional game and replacing it with three flag games played on a 50-yard field and a series of skills competitions.

Each of the first two flag games was worth six points and each skills event was three. The total points were accumulated to form the score entering the final flag game.

“I thought it was awesome,” San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey said. “Guys had fun. It got intense there at the end.”

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams noticed the NFC took the game more seriously than expected, such as sending Cowboys safety KaVontae Turpin at the quarterback.

“Hopefully, next year the NFC will actually play some man and not sit back in Cover-2 the whole time and blitz one of the fastest men in the league,” Adams said. “Interesting technique by them, but it was still a good time.”

BROTHERLY COMPETITION

Brothers Eli and Peyton Manning each have two Super Bowl rings, but Eli has this Pro Bowl victory over his older sibling.

“I am the greatest coach of the Mannings,” Eli said tongue-in-cheek on the NFL’s Twitter account. “I am so much better at coaching than Peyton, it’s unbelievable.”

He wasn’t the only brother to earn bragging rights. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs intercepted a pass off a trick play from Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

MYLES GARRETT INJURED

The Cleveland Browns, however, announced defensive end Myles Garrett dislocated a toe Sunday, but X-rays were negative.

Garrett played with a sprained shoulder this season from a car accident in September, but still had a team-record 16 sacks.

Injuries were something the NFL hoped to avoid by switching to this new format.

Though tackling wasn’t allowed, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey leveled Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill at the goal line.

PLAYGROUND FOOTBALL

Cousins said he hopes youngsters watching the Pro Bowl will want to participate in flag football and help that version of the sport grow.

The change to a flag game took some getting used to, but Cousins said that also made it more fun.

“You’re kind of drawing stuff up in the dirt,” he said. “It’s not as defined of a plan, so some of our guys were coming into the huddle saying, ‘Hey, I think if we did this.’ You try to listen to them and incorporate it. So it was fun, but also a little hectic.”

McCaffrey agreed.

“Learning the rules was a little tricky because this was so different,” McCaffrey said. “But I think everybody learned pretty quick and had fun.”

FANS COME OUT

The Pro Bowl has received quite a bit of criticism in recent years, but the NFL keeps the event for a reason — fans pay attention.

The announced crowd of 58,331 was more than 2,000 more than last year, also played at Allegiant Stadium.

No site has been announced for next year’s Pro Bowl, but it’s unlikely the NFL will want that event to be played in the same venue just before the Super Bowl, which will be in Las Vegas.

___

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Kirk Cousins rallies NFC to 35-33 win over AFC in Pro Bowl