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A16 sports
Tuesday 8 February 2022

Herbert, Crosby send AFC to 41-35 win in Pro Bowl’s return

By GREG BEACHAM played with no kickoffs.
AP Sports Writer The game started with the
LAS VEGAS (AP) — From NFC offense on its own 15
Darius Leonard's rambling in the so-called "spot and
pick-6 on the opening drive choose" method of elimi-
to Mac Jones' blissfully en- nating dangerous kickoffs
thusiastic Griddy dance at from football. The winner
the 2-minute warning, the of the opening coin toss
Pro Bowl's Vegas debut has the option to choose
was a messy, chaotic show. where to spot the ball on
And Justin Herbert, Maxx the field or whether to start
Crosby and the AFC stars the game with the ball.
all won big. Neither Pro Bowl punter got
Herbert hit Mark Andrews to play, either. AFC coach
with two touchdown pass- Mike Vrabel told Las Vegas'
es, leading the AFC to a 41- AJ Cole earlier in the week
35 victory over the NFC on that the team wouldn't be
Sunday in the return of the punting — so Cole said he
Pro Bowl. ate two hot dogs at half-
"I think it's a great oppor- time.
tunity to come out here "I'm just here for moral sup-
and play some of the best port, basically," Cole said.
football players this game NFC wide receiver Mike Evans (13), of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catches a pass for a touchdown "Just passing out water and
has to offer," Herbert said. above AFC inside linebacker Denzel Perryman, lower right, of the Las Vegas Raiders, as AFC high-fives."
"What an opportunity to safety Tyrann Mathieu (32), of the Kansas City Chiefs, looks on during the first half of the Pro Bowl WISH I WAS A BALLER
NFL football game, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Las Vegas.
learn more about their Associated Press Tampa Bay's Mike Evans
game, understand them, went up and over the Raid-
get to know them and just py game featuring seven Jones then got stopped on Both teams treated the Pro ers' Denzel Perryman for a
have some fun." interceptions, with at least a scramble in the waning Bowl with all the seriousness 19-yard TD catch in the first
Jones passed for 112 yards one thrown by each of the minutes, but kept running it deserves: Tackling to the half. Perryman then went
and threw a touchdown six quarterbacks. about 55 more yards to the ground was rare while both into the locker room at
pass, and the New England "I didn't want to injure or hurt end zone and celebrated teams effectively played halftime and tweeted: "Lol
rookie also did a memora- anybody, but I still wanted alone with the Griddy, pio- two-hand touch, and nei- i know i know, only if i was
ble rendition of the Griddy to have some fun and work neered by Minnesota's Jus- ther defense put up more taller."
in the first Las Vegas edition on my game," Crosby said. tin Jefferson. After learning than a perfunctory pass BROTHERS GOTTA HUG
of the NFL's annual All-Star "No matter what it is, we're his celebration was prema- rush. Buffalo receiver Stefon
game, back from a one- still in full pads and want to ture, Jones hit Pittsburgh's The informal rules to prevent Diggs got to go against his
year hiatus caused by the have a little bit of fun." Najee Harris for a first down excessive violence were little brother, Dallas corner-
coronavirus pandemic. The AFC has won five con- on the next play to allow also quite flexible: Tampa back Trevon Diggs, for the
Herbert won the offensive secutive Pro Bowls since the the AFC to run out the Bay's Antoine Winfield re- first time as professionals.
MVP award after passing league returned to a con- clock. turned an interception 63 Stefon even switched to
for 98 yards and finding the ference format in the 2016- The Pro Bowl moved to Las yards for a score to end the defensive back when Trev-
Baltimore tight end for two 17 season. Its players took Vegas for the first time after first quarter, but only after on came in as a receiver
TDs in the first half of the Los home $80,000 apiece from a four-year run in Orlando, running through a pretty for the NFC in the first half,
Angeles Chargers star's first Vegas, while the NFC got and a less-than-capacity clear two-hand touch from and Stefon got credit for
Pro Bowl appearance. An- $40,000. crowd at Allegiant Stadi- Las Vegas' Hunter Renfrow. a pass breakup in the end
drews had five catches for Kyler Murray passed for um mostly cheered for the Renfrow got the day's big- zone after a good bit of
82 yards. 160 yards and three touch- Raiders and booed their gest single cheer when he hand-fighting between the
Crosby, from the home- downs for the NFC. The AFC West rivals. Otherwise made a tip-toe TD grab in brothers.
town Raiders, won the de- Arizona star made it close there was a decidedly mel- the back of the end zone. Stefon called checkmate
fensive MVP award with when he hit Minnesota's low vibe on the field from CAN'T KICK IT when he juked Trevon to
two sacks, three batted Dalvin Cook for a TD with the moment Leonard re- In another attempt at the ground at the goal
passes and three tackles 2:36 to play, trimming the turned an interception 45 violence-reducing inno- line on a TD run in the third
for loss in a pleasingly slop- AFC's lead to six points. rambling yards for a TD. vation, the Pro Bowl was quarter.q