Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Chandler Christa – @Chandlefc
Simulcast on ABC and ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, NFL Live on Yahoo Sports, NFL App
Here are four things to watch for in the 2022 Pro Bowl:
- No kickoffs! ‘spot and choose’ method The NFL has used the Pro Bowl in recent years as an opportunity to experiment. The innovation continues in 2022. There will be no kickoffs Sunday, with the winner of the opening coin toss instead have the option of spotting the ball anywhere on the field while designating direction, or choosing whether to start on offense or defense from the designated spot. The loser of the toss will have first choice between the two privileges to begin the second half. It’s called the Spot and Choose” method and was brought forth to the Competition Committee last year by the Baltimore Ravens. With player safety always a priority, this rule could eventually be implemented for all NFL games.
- What will Deebo do? The 49ers star transformed into a supernova this season, scorching opposing defenses with his hands, legs and even his arm. Deebo Samuel became the first player in NFL history to top 1,400 receiving yards and 300 rushing yards in the same year. He was just as potent in the postseason, topping 100 all-purpose yards in all three games. But the beauty of Samuel isn’t in the numbers. It’s the madness of his methods. He lines up everywhere, darts past, around and through defenders like a student driver and traffic cones, and is a threat to take every touch to the house. It all makes him the ideal participant in an all-star setting. The case can be made that Samuel is the top skill player in football.
- Diggs vs. Diggs: This is the first pro meeting between the star siblings. Beyond their blood relation, their respective games set the stage for highlights galore, assuming they square off on some snaps. Trevon Diggs is known for taking gambles, which would be a particularly risky proposition versus the technically-sound Stefon Diggs. The Bills wideout had a career year in 2020, just as his younger brother broke in as a rookie corner for the Cowboys. This year belonged to Trevon, whose 11 interceptions were the most in a season in 40 years. That’s more than the career-high 10 touchdowns Stefon caught in 2021. Any passes thrown their way are often caught. The question Sunday will be which Diggs will come down with them.
- New blood at QB: Kyler Murray looked like the MVP through seven weeks. Justin Herbert looked like a future MVP for the second straight year. Neither ended the 2021 season how they wanted, but their respective futures couldn’t be brighter. Perhaps they’ll take out some of their playoff angst on the Pro Bowl. The presumptive starting QBs possess immense physical talents, share a flair for downfield dimes, and frustrate defenses sometimes with their legs more than their arms. And they’re both under 25. The league is in a great spot as it pertains to young QBs, and Herbert and Murray are two of the best examples.
The Pro Bowl will also feature a 35/25 second play clock instead of the normal 40/25 second clock. After an incomplete pass, the game clock will start on the official’s signal, except inside the last two minutes of the first half and the last five minutes of the second half. In a normal NFL game, the game clock does not start after an incomplete pass.
AFC
Quarterbacks
Justin Herbert* (Los Angeles Chargers), Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)
Running Backs
Jonathan Taylor* (Indianapolis Colts), Nick Chubb (Cleveland Browns), Joe Mixon (Cincinnati Bengals), Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers; replacing Mixon)
Fullback
Patrick Ricard* (Baltimore Ravens)
Wide Receivers
Tyreek Hill* (Kansas City Chiefs), Ja’Marr Chase* (Cincinnati Bengals), Stefon Diggs (Buffalo Bills), Keenan Allen (Los Angeles Chargers), Diontae Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers; replacing Chase)
Tight Ends
Mark Andrews* (Baltimore Ravens), Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs)
Offensive Tackles
Rashawn Slater* (Los Angeles Chargers), Orlando Brown* (Kansas City Chiefs), Dion Dawkins (Buffalo Bills)
Offensive Guards
Quenton Nelson* (Indianapolis Colts), Joel Bitonio* (Cleveland Browns), Wyatt Teller (Cleveland Browns), Rodger Saffold (Tennessee Titans; replacing Nelson)
Centers
Corey Linsley* (Los Angeles Chargers), Ryan Kelly (India
NFC
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers* (Green Bay Packers), Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals), Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings; replacing Rodgers), Russel Wilson (Seattle Seahawks; replacing Brady)
Running Backs
Dalvin Cook* (Minnesota Vikings), James Conner (Arizona Cardinals), Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints)
Fullback
Kyle Juszczyk* (San Francisco 49ers)
Wide Receivers
Cooper Kupp* (Los Angeles Rams), Davante Adams* (Green Bay Packers), Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers), Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers; replacing Adams), CeeDee Lamb (Dallas Cowboys, replacing Kupp)
Tight Ends
George Kittle* (San Francisco 49ers), Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons)
Offensive Tackles
Trent Williams* (San Francisco 49ers), Tristan Wirfs* (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Tyron Smith (Dallas Cowboys), DJ Humphries (Arizona Cardinals, replacing Smith), Brian O’Neill (Minnesota Vikings; replacing Wirfs), Duane Brown (Seattle Seahawks; replacing Williams)
Offensive Guards
Zack Martin* (Dallas Cowboys), Brandon Scherff (Washington Football Team), Ali Marpet (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Centers
Jason Kelce* (Philadelphia Eagles), Ryan Jensen (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- *Denotes starter
Simulcast on ABC and ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, NFL Live on Yahoo Sports, NFL App
Predictions
AFC vs NFC
CC: NFC
54-49
CIN-LAR
CC: CIN
Poll Question
Which #sports team wears red best?
Bucs- 36.4%, Cincinnati Reds – 26.4%, Pistons – 0, Liverpool – 27.3%
CC: Pistons
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
