ORLANDO, Fla. — Former LSU receivers dominated the NFL in 2024, so it wasn’t shocking in addition they made a huge impact on the Professional Bowl Video games.
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr. and New York Giants’ Malik Nabers every had two landing receptions whereas the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson had one within the NFC’s 56-50 flag soccer victory over the AFC at Tenting World Stadium. That helped propel the NFC to an total 76-63 victory. The Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase caught three TD passes for the AFC.
“We’re on high for certain,” Jefferson mentioned of the previous LSU gamers. “It’s undoubtedly nice to see the blokes having enjoyable out right here, scoring touchdowns, simply making large performs. That is what we usually do, so it is good to see us popping out right here and doing the identical factor.”
These 4 receivers completed within the high seven in receiving yards within the NFL in 2024. Chase led the league with 1,708 yards, adopted by Jefferson with 1,533 and Thomas with 1,282 yards. Nabers was seventh with 1,204 yards. Thomas and Nabers are rookies. Chase really gained the receiving triple crown, main in yards, receptions (172) and receiving TDs (17).
“Each time I noticed them rating, I used to be like, ‘Oh no, I received to go on the market and rating once more,'” Nabers mentioned. “So it is only a competitors that all of us have with one another.”
Whereas these former Tigers had been spectacular Sunday, listed below are another winners from the sport:
The MVPs: Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who threw three TD passes, and Vikings CB Byron Murphy Jr., who had a pick-six, had been named offensive and defensive MVPs.
Eli Manning: The NFC has not misplaced to the AFC for the reason that NFL modified to its present format for the 2023 Video games, which suggests Manning, as a coach, has pulled off a three-peat in opposition to his older brother, Peyton.
The NFC large males: The NFC swept the tug-o-war competitors … and reasonably simply. The NFC offensive linemen wanted little time to tug the AFC offensive linemen into the froth pit, and the NFC defensive linemen took only a tad longer.
The NFC takes house three extra factors with the tug of conflict victory!
📺: #ProBowlGames on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/HUzFleua3q— NFL (@NFL) February 2, 2025
To not be outdone, the NFC mascots additionally beat the AFC mascots.
Jaguars punter Logan Cooke: The primary-time Professional Bowl participant gained the Punt Excellent competitors with a clutch kick in what was primarily quadruple extra time in opposition to the Lions’ Jack Fox.
The sport featured every punter, accompanied by a non-punter, attempting to land brief punts into certainly one of six large tubes to attain factors. After Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey and San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk tied within the first spherical, Cooke and Fox had been deadlocked after regulation. Cooke pressured double extra time on his ultimate try and gained it within the fourth extra time when his try was profitable and Fox’s bounced off the rim.
The AFC rule-benders: Lions working again Jahmyr Gibbs intercepted a 2-point conversion move from Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos’ Marvin Mims Jr., weaved his well beyond midfield, and was headed for the tip zone to attain two factors for the NFC.
Besides a number of AFC gamers on the sideline ran onto the sphere and pulled his flag earlier than he might rating. The AFC was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, however the rule violation did save two factors and saved the NFC from taking an eight-point lead with 1:25 left.
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Malik Nabers scores and flips into the froth pit in the course of the Professional Bowl
Jared Goff finds Malik Nabers for a landing, who then flips right into a foam pit in celebration within the Professional Bowl vs. the AFC.
The rookies: The possibility to spend every week with a number of the NFL’s greatest was a terrific alternative for the 5 rookies who participated: Thomas, Nabers, Las Vegas Raiders tight finish Brock Bowers, New England Patriots quaterback Drake Maye and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse.
It was an opportunity to not solely get to know the veterans but additionally an opportunity to select their brains on the subtleties of life within the NFL, which Thomas mentioned was invaluable.
“It has been tremendous cool, tremendous enjoyable,” Thomas mentioned. “Simply having the ability to speak to them, to attach with them. I imply, you see them on the sphere and stuff, however you do not actually get an opportunity to actually sit down and speak to them.”
