Here we go again. Another Pro Bowl is on tap this year, as the best of the best in the AFC takes on the best of the best of the NFC in a glorified exhibition game to fill in the weekend before the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams duke it out in Super Bowl 53 on Feb. 3 (view prediction here). Going into the all-star (sans Super Bowlers) game the AFC enjoys a 34-30 edge in NFL inter-conference play over the regular season. Read on for a succinct preview of the 2019 Pro Bowl and this writer’s predicted outcome of the contest.
We have to state the obvious here: the AFC team is loaded with talent. This team has the favorite to win this season’s NFL MVP in quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. Mahomes was spectacular during the regular season and was just as effective in the playoffs. Mahomes led the Chiefs all the way into the AFC title game, where they unfortunately lost to the New England Patriots. Mahomes concluded his second year as a pro with 5,097 passing yards and 50 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions. Imagine what Mahomes could do with a receiving corps that features DeAndre Hopkins of the Houston Texans, Keenan Allen of the Los Angeles Chargers, Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Mahomes’ Chiefs teammate, Tyreek Hill. Also on offense for the AFC are running backs James Conner (Steelers) and Melvin Gordon (Chargers). On defense, the AFC will parade the pair of pass-rushing problems in J.J. Watt (Texans) and Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns. Watt finished the season second in the league in sacks with 16.0. He and Garrett will team up also with Denver Broncos star Von Miller, who was fourth in the regular season with 14.5 sacks.
Betting on the NFC
Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams have both made it to the Pro Bowl list, but they’re not going to play in it. Brees, together with Saints teammate and wide receiver Michael Thomas will not play in the event because of injuries, while Goff is in the middle of the Rams’ Super Bowl preparation. In their place will be the Dallas Cowboys pair of Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper. There shouldn’t be a shortage of talent under center even with Brees out. Apart from Prescott, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers is also set to see some snaps. The backfield seems to have a better collection of talent. Starting at the running back position for NFC is another Cowboy in Ezekiel Elliott. New York Giants super rookie Saquon Barkley is a reserve, and what a luxury he would be for his Pro Bowl team. The receivers group will be bannered by Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons), who led the league this season with 1,677 receiving yards. Jones could see himself positioned across Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). The defense of the NFC is scary, largely because it has a bunch of Bears in Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, Akiem Hicks, and Kendall Fuller. Mack finished the season with 12.5 sacks and an interception, while Fuller and Jackson were first and second in the NFL with seven and six interceptions, respectively.
Writer’s Prediction
The AFC depends more on their biggest stars than the NFC, who are resting up for the Super Bowl, and so the NFC wins, 47-43.
