2025 Pro Bowl highlights: Best moments, score as NFC beat AFC

Posted by author February 2, 2025 Football

The 2025 NFL Pro Bowl was a series of competitions spread out across several days. On Sunday, things came to a close with the main dish, a flag football faceoff between the best in the AFC and NFC.

Festivities played out from Orlando, Florida at the Camping World Stadium. Sunday afternoon offered more skills events, including the punt perfect, great football race and tug-of-war.

We then got a look at the best and brightest in the game facing off sans pads in a seven-on-seven showdown. The flag football spotlight brought together names like Jared Goff, Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, giving the fans some fodder ahead of next week’s Super Bowl.

All in all, the NFC walked away with a commanding victory over the AFC giving head coach Eli Manning his third straight victory over his brother Peyton.

Here is a full recap, plus highlights from the event.

After a commanding win from the NFC, Byron Murphy, who secured a pivotal pick-6 at the start of the fourth quarter was named Defensive MVP. Meanwhile, Jared Goff, who quarterbacked the NFC to a huge lead in the first two quarters was named Offensive MVP.

The score was closer than the game was. The NFC was in total control from the get-go, recording numerous touchdown drives and big plays on defense that the AFC just could not keep up with.

Eli Manning is now 3-0 against his brother as coaches in the Pro Bowl. Surely, Peyton Manning is fuming at the thought.

It was about time the AFC got one of their own. With so little time left in the contest, the NFC started getting cute with the ball, opting to put Seahawks’ receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at quarterback. On his very first play, he threw a pick-6, which was called back due to an “illegal blitz.” Even the announcers were unsure why it was called back. Ball don’t lie though, as two plays later, JSN would throw another pick-6, a legitimate one this time.

The NFC still leads by 13 points, but they did give Eli Manning a Gatorade shower, so that would be a shame if it wound up being premature.

The game may be all but over, but the AFC still has some tricks up their sleeves. A double pass from Russell Wilson handing off to Ja’Marr Chase, who threw the ball back to Wilson, who then found Joe Mixon down the field wound up in the end zone.

The announcers said it best when they uttered, “Where has this been all game?” If the AFC had been this creative all along, they might have had a chance against this NFC squad.

Blink and you’ll miss it, the NFC scored another quick touchdown drive yet again. This time, it was the other NFC West tight end, Trey McBride coming away with the score.

Too little, too late. Russell Wilson is known for his deep ball, and he showed it off with a proper “heave-ho” to Ja’Marr Chase to find the end zone following the Malik Nabers touchdown. As stated earlier, the AFC has had numerous big plays, but each big play is matched by a pick-six or an NFC touchdown drive.

The NFC got their own big play from an NFC receiver on the ensuing drive, with Malik Nabers making a masterful catch in traffic followed by a touchdown grab two plays later. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has now been on the field for five plays and has recorded two touchdown passes for the NFC.

It’s 70-45, NFC on top with less than eight minutes to go.

After Maye’s second pick-6, the AFC turned back to Russell Wilson, who led a quick touchdown drive thanks in large part to a big reception by Brian Thomas Jr. If the game was not already a four-score affair, this may have been a masterful coaching decision from Peyton Manning. Unfortunately, this game feels all but secured for the NFC.

At the end of the third quarter, AFC head coach Peyton Manning said “Win the tug of war and we’re back in it.” The AFC not only lost the tug of war competition, but the first play of the fourth quarter saw the NFC pick off quarterback Drake Maye and run it back for a touchdown.

In the span of a minute and a half of actual game time, the NFC went from a nine-point lead to a 25-point lead, and that may be too much for even the AFC Pro Bowlers to overcome.

It didn’t take long for the NFC to put their AFC counterparts in the foam pit in the first round. In fact, it may have taken less than 15 seconds. The second round wasn’t any better, which was to be expected with the NFC outweighing the AFC by over 100 pounds.

In all fairness, the AFC put up a better fight in the second round, but a push from Nick Bosa and company put the AFC in the foam once again. That win gave the NFC three more points. It will take a monster fourth quarter for the AFC to win. It’s 58-39.

With very little time left in the third quarter, the NFC turned to 2024 Pro Bowl MVP Baker Mayfield and he didn’t disappoint. The Bucs’ quarterback led a two-play drive capped off with a touchdown pass to George Kittle to end the third quarter.

Just when you thought the AFC was getting something going, the NFC finds a way to shut it down. 55-39, NFC out in front.

After a four-and-out from the NFC, Drake Maye and company answered back with a two-play touchdown drive capped off by a 25-yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr. All of a sudden, the AFC is back within nine points after the two-point conversion to Jonnu Smith was also successful. It’s 48-39.

After a season of throwing to Kayshon Boutte and Ja’Lynn Polk, Drake Maye was jumping for joy after a long touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase at the Pro Bowl.

While the AFC has had a number of big plays, the NFC has been able to answer at every turn. There’s still a long ways to climb if the AFC wants to come back. It’s 48-31.

The AFC just can’t catch a break. On a 4th down, Patriots’ quarterback Drake Maye couldn’t handle the pressure applied by Cowboys’ returner Kavontae Turpin, tossing a hitch route that was jumped by Cardinals’ safety Budda Baker. Without an offensive line to stop him and no DK Metcalf to chase him down, there was nothing but green grass in front of Baker from the moment he caught the ball.

The NFC has nearly doubled the AFC’s point total. They’re up 48-25.

Each team has traded wins at events. Micah Parsons made up for his lackluster Madden performance with a terrific start to the team obstacle course. The early lead provided by Parsons gave the NFC all the leeway they needed to secure the victory. We’ve still got two quarters to go plus a tug-of-war showdown, but the NFC has a very comfortable 42-25 lead.

In the history of the Pro Bowl Madden competition, the AFC had never won, but the team of Derwin James and Brian Thomas Jr. was able to take down the NFC’s pair of Micah Parsons and Justin Jefferson to earn the AFC three additional points heading into the second half. It’s 39-25 with the NFC out in front.

Although the AFC gave a valiant effort, pushing the ball far down the field in very little time, their backyard lateral play to end the quarter did not pan out. A backward pass from Brian Thomas Jr. would end up hitting the ground, rendering the play dead.

It was NFC coach Eli Manning who wound up pointing out the violation, securing the NFC’s 17-point lead moving forward.

After the AFC got the best of their defense, Sam Darnold was able to find his usual target, JJettas, for another score and another griddy, leaving the AFC with very little time in the second to close the gap. It’s 39-22, NFC.

After a failed drive, the AFC answered back with a long drive that resulted in a touchdown for Jaguars’ rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The AFC still trails but the team was ecstatic to get points on the board, with the team jumping into the foam pit in celebration, mimicking the NFC’s celebration after a pivotal interception earlier in today’s contest.

The AFC would fail their one-point conversion. It’s 33-22, NFC leading.

The NFC wasted no time making up for the AFC’s victory in the punt-off. Quarterback Jared Goff found Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a drag route, who weaved and bobbed between every AFC defender for a long touchdown. Although the NFC was unable to get the extra point on the fade to Mike Evans, the NFC’s defense came up big preventing Russell Wilson from leading his own touchdown drive.

Who didn’t want the punting competition to go into extra rounds? The AFC representatives – Marlon Humphrey and Logan Cooke – matched the NFC representatives – Kyle Juszczyk and Jack Fox – step for step. The non-punters each recorded six points while the punters themselves hit seven each.

In overtime, each punter was given 30 seconds to sink as many balls as possible. Fox went first and drilled 3 punts, while Cooke lipped out each of his first three punts for the AFC. Cooke went off at the end though, hitting a buzzer-beater to tie Fox’s three points.

The punters then went into sudden death, arguably the most dramatic moment any punter has ever experienced in their football careers. Punt for punt to determine the winner. Cooke and Fox each missed their first punts. They each missed their second punts. Clearly, the pressure was getting to them.

It wasn’t until the third round when Cooke would nail his first punt. Fox was unable to match, with his punt banging off the back of the target bins, giving the AFC the win and earning them three points.

NFC 27, AFC 16.

Goff led a ho-hum march down the field highlighted by a nice completion to Justin Jefferson. Staring at a fourth and goal, the Lions QB finds Malik Nabers treating across the middle for a touchdown.

Some familiar sites as Joe Burrow finds target Ja’Marr Chase for a touchdown. On the point-after, Burrow decided to run in the no-run zone. So, the AFC has to settle for six after the AFC couldn’t convert after the penalty was assessed.

The NFC wasted little time widening the gap here. The Lions’ Jared Goff gets a nice TD toss to Kyle Juszcyk from 10 yards out.

After Thursday’s skills events, the NFC has a cushion to start the flag football proceedings.

When is the NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday?

The NFL Pro Bowl fun kicked off this weekend with skills challenges on Thursday. But it all comes to a close with the AFC vs. NFC 7-on-7 flag football game on Sunday, Feb. 2, at 3 p.m. ET.

How to watch Pro Bowl game: TV, time and streaming

Date: Sunday, Feb. 2
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: ABC, Disney XD, ESPN Deportes
Streaming: ESPN+; NFL+; Fubo

Watch the NFL Pro Bowl with Fubo, which offers a free trial

Starters are denoted with an asterisk (*).

Quarterbacks:

Running backs:

Fullback:

Wide receivers:

Tight ends:

Offensive tackles:

Offensive guards:

Center:

Defensive ends:

Interior defensive linemen:

Outside linebackers:

Inside/middle linebackers:

Cornerbacks:

Free safety:

Strong safety:

Long snapper:

Punter:

Kicker:

Return specialist:

Special teamer:

Starters are denoted with an asterisk (*).

Quarterbacks:

Running backs:

Fullback:

Wide receivers:

Tight ends:

Offensive tackles:

Offensive guards:

Center:

Defensive ends:

Interior defensive linemen:

Outside linebackers:

Inside/middle linebackers:

Cornerbacks:

Free safety:

Strong safety:

Long snapper:

Punter:

Kicker:

Return specialist:

Special teamer:

The Pro Bowl keeps the football momentum going ahead of next week’s Super Bowl clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.

Skill challenges and an entertaining flag football game will unfold at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida

The AccuWeather forecast for Sunday promises nice weather for fans in attendance. It will be mostly cloudy with an expected high of 79 degrees Fahrenheit.

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