Pro Bowl Afterword: Team Sanders vs Team Rice

Legendary 49ers receiver Jerry Rice and his captains, Saints QB Drew Brees
and Rams DE Robert Quinn, drafted the winning team of the 2014 Pro Bowl.

Cory Puffett

That was an excellent game. I was excited for this one, but my excitement was mostly about seeing how the new format would affect the game. But this was truly a great game.

Defense ruled as the Pro Bowl games were changed to allow stunts on the defensive line and bump-and-run coverage against the pass. Because of that, we got a low-scoring game. The third quarter was the first scoreless Pro Bowl quarter since 2007.

It was the most physical Pro Bowl I’ve ever seen. Players made a point to make safe hits, but we saw early that players would not shy from contact. Derrick Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs really popped Jamaal Charles early in the game. Johnson, playing for Team Rice, wound up being named the defensive MVP.

Nick Foles was named the offensive MVP of the game even though his team lost. He completed 7 of 10 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown for a rating of 130.8. He took Team Sanders on a drive to take the lead in the fourth quarter.

But Alex Smith responded for Team Rice, and as Jerry’s prodding they went for two points to win the game. They converted the two-point try and Justin Tucker’s last-second 67-yard field goal try for Team Sanders fell short.

The two teams combined for nine sacks and eight turnovers/takeaways, but it wasn’t really a sloppy game. There were only six penalties, most of them false start calls, which is understandable with linemen playing with three new quarterbacks. It really was a case of the league’s best defensive players dominating the league’s best offensive players, at least for the most part.

One noteworthy team represented in the Pro Bowl was the Cleveland Browns. Josh Gordon had six receptions for 66 yards and touchdown for Team Rice while Jordan Cameron had a touchdown for Team Sanders. Josh Haden had an interception for Team Rice.

The players on Jerry Rice’s team will each receive $53,000 for winning the Pro Bowl. Prime Time’s players will receive $26,000 each. The players from the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks who were voted to the Pro Bowl but did not play will each receive $39,500.

Tony Gonzalez was on Rice’s winning team. He returned to the Falcons this year hoping to go out a winner in a different way, but playing and winning his last game in Hawaii has to be a pretty good alternative. Also, this was the last game for referee Scott Green, who announced he will retire after this season.

Final Score:

Team Rice – 22

Team Sanders – 21