VFL Peyton Manning fell short of revenge against his brother Eli as the NFC defeated the AFC in the 2024 Pro Bowl Games on Sunday afternoon in Orlando, Florida.
The Manning brothers were selected as the two coaches for the inaugural 2023 Pro Bowl Games and ran it back in 2024 after the instant success the new format provided. Rather than the outdated and non-competitive 11-on-11 games in full pads, the NFL moved to a flag football and skills challenge format, allowing the players and football figures to show significantly more personality with less risk playing in the game.
Eli’s NFC squad took the championship in 2023 and bested Peyton’s AFC unit on Sunday in Camping World Stadium.
Marshall Manning, Peyton’s son, was by his hip the whole game as the former Tennessee great coached his team alongside offensive coordinator Wes Welker and defensive coordinator Ray Lewis.
The NFC dominated the skills competition, topping the AFC in the Move the Chains challenge, the Madden NFL head-to-head challenge, the Gridiron Gauntlet, the Best Catch competition, and three-man Tug-of-War. The AFC’s lone victory in the skills portion of the event came during Kick-Tac-Toe. Most of the skills competition was performed by offensive and defensive linemen as the skill players were saved for the 60-minute flag football game.
The difference in the Pro Bowl Games took place in the fourth quarter of the flag football game to close down the event.
The AFC coaches are animated as ever 🗣️
📺: #ProBowlGames on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/hYXALRAmNf— NFL (@NFL) February 4, 2024
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The NFC had a five-point lead, 64-59, over the AFC with five minutes to go in the game. NFC quarterback Baker Mayfield threw an interception to the AFC defensive back Kyle Hamilton with the NFC knocking on the door to the endzone.
The AFC took the ball and moved it downfield behind the play of quarterback CJ Stroud and tight end Evan Engram with time quickly ticking away under 60 seconds.
Then, with fourth down on the table and the ball on the three-yard line with 15 seconds left, the AFC had one play left to try to win the game.
Stroud dropped back and fired a pass short and to the right in the direction of Keenan Allen. The ball fell incomplete as the former Tennessee football legend fell to his knees in disappointment.
Pass is incomplete and the NFC is going to get the Pro Bowl win!
📺: #ProBowlGames on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Fh4wEaHiJf— NFL (@NFL) February 4, 2024
Eli Manning’s team ran out the clock in the final four seconds as young brother toppled older brother for the second straight year by a score of 64-59.
Midfield Manning meeting #ProBowlGames pic.twitter.com/pjQdgm4D9x
— NFL (@NFL) February 4, 2024
The Pro Bowl Games were played in Camping World Stadium, the same location of Tennessee’s Citrus Bowl victory over Iowa this past January on New Year’s Day.
FINAL: The NFC wins the #ProBowlGames! pic.twitter.com/9ttymeiZO5
— NFL (@NFL) February 4, 2024
