2018 Pro Bowl
{{Short description|National Football League all-star game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL game
| type = pb
| name = 2018 Pro Bowl
| image = File:2018 Pro Bowl logo.jpg
| caption =
| visitor = NFC
| home = AFC
| visitor_qtr1 = 7
| visitor_qtr2 = 13
| visitor_qtr3 = 0
| visitor_qtr4 = 3
| home_qtr1 = 3
| home_qtr2 = 0
| home_qtr3 = 14
| home_qtr4 = 7
| visitor_coach = Sean Payton
| visitor_coach_team = New Orleans Saints
| home_coach = Mike Tomlin
| home_coach_team = Pittsburgh Steelers
| offensiveMVP = Delanie Walker
| offMVPteam = Tennessee Titans
| defensiveMVP = Von Miller
| defMVPteam = Denver Broncos
| date = January 28, 2018
| stadium = Camping World Stadium
| city = Orlando, Florida
| attendance = 51,019
| odds =
| anthem = Jordan Fisher
| coin_toss = Derrick Brooks
Warrick Dunn
Jason Taylor
LaDainian Tomlinson
| referee = Walt Anderson[http://www.footballzebras.com/2018/01/18/walt-anderson-referee-2018-pro-bowl/ Walt Anderson is the referee for the 2018 Pro Bowl]
| HOFers =
| halftime = Jordan Fisher
| network = ESPN
| announcers = Sean McDonough, Matt Hasselbeck, Lisa Salters and Louis Riddick
| rating =
| share =
| radio = Westwood One
| radioannouncers = Kevin Kugler (play-by-play)
Steve Tasker (analyst)
Laura Okmin (sideline reporter)
| last = 2017
| next = 2019
}}
The 2018 Pro Bowl was the National Football League's all-star game for the 2017 season, which was played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on January 28, 2018. For the first time since 2009, the game started during afternoon hours instead of primetime hours for U.S. Mainland viewers with a 3 p.m. ET start. It marked the second year the game was played in Orlando. It was televised nationally by ESPN and simulcasted on ABC. The roster was announced on December 19 on NFL Network. The AFC team won the game 24–23, the second straight year the Pro Bowl was won by the AFC.
Background
===Host selection process===
Under a three-year deal that began in 2017, the Pro Bowl will once again be hosted by Camping World Stadium in Orlando.{{cite web|title=NFL's pro bowl moves to Orlando|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/ct-nfl-pro-bowl-spt-20160601-story.html|website=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Tronc|access-date=December 13, 2016}}
=Side events=
The Pro Bowl Skills Challenge was held on January 25 at the Walt Disney World Resort and its ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Game format
=Rule changes=
The game format was the same as for 2017, highlighted by:
- Forty-four players were assigned to each team, up from 43 in 2016 (a regular game-day active roster has 46).
- The two-minute warning that was given in the first and third quarters (in addition to the second and fourth quarters) in previous years was eliminated, and the ball did not change hands after the first and third quarters.
- The coin toss determined which team was awarded possession first. There were no kickoffs; the ball was placed on the 25-yard line at the start of each half and after scoring plays.
- Defenses were now permitted to play cover two and press coverage. Prior to 2014, only man coverage was allowed, except for goal line situations.
- A 38-second/25-second play clock was used instead of the usual 40-second/25-second clock, and up from 35-second/25-second clock in 2016.
- Replay reviews will be allowed; previously there was replay in the Pro Bowl only when new equipment tests were being conducted.
- There are no intentional grounding rules.
- Only defensive ends and tackles may rush on passing plays, but those must be on the same side of the ball. The defense is not permitted to blitz.
- All blindside blocks and blocks below the waist are illegal.
- A tight end and running back must be in every formation.
- No more than two wide receivers on either side of the ball.
- Deep middle safety must be aligned inside the hash marks.
- Play is stopped the moment a defender wraps his arms around the ball carrier. (This rule only applies to the quarterback in the backfield during regular NFL play.)
Summary
=Box score=
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=#eee
|titlestyle=text-align:center;background-color:#88ceeb; color:#000000
|title=2018 Pro Bowl: American Football Conference vs National Football Conference
|date=January 28, 2018
|time=3:00 p.m. ET
|road=NFC
|R1=7|R2=13|R3=0|R4=3
|home=AFC
|H1=3|H2=0|H3=14|H4=7
|stadium=Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
|attendance=51,019
|weather={{convert|78|F|C}}, Rain showers
|referee=Walt Anderson
|TV=ESPN
|TVAnnouncers=Sean McDonough, Matt Hasselbeck, Lisa Salters and Louis Riddick
|reference=[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2018012800/2017/PRO21/nfc-pro-bowl@afc-pro-bowl Recap], [http://www.nflgsis.com/2017/post/05/57501/gamebook.pdf Game Book]
|scoring=
;First quarter
- NFC – Adam Thielen 8-yard pass from Drew Brees (Graham Gano kick), 7:50. NFC 7–0. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 7:10.
- AFC – Chris Boswell 41-yard field goal, 0:43. NFC 7–3. Drive: 12 plays, 52 yards, 7:07.
;Second quarter
- NFC – Graham Gano 43-yard field goal, 12:08. NFC 10–3. Drive: 4 plays, −4 yards, 1:56.
- NFC – Harrison Smith 79-yard interception return (Graham Gano kick), 7:18. NFC 17–3.
- NFC – Graham Gano 40-yard field goal, 0:00. NFC 20–3. Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 1:53.
;Third quarter
- AFC – Delanie Walker 4-yard pass from Alex Smith (Chris Boswell kick), 11:20. NFC 20–10. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 3:40.
- AFC – LeSean McCoy 2-yard run (Chris Boswell kick), 5:36. NFC 20–17. Drive: 5 plays, 53 yards, 3:07.
;Fourth quarter
- NFC – Graham Gano 38-yard field goal, 14:09. NFC 23–17. Drive: 13 plays, 55 yards, 6:27.
- AFC – Delanie Walker 18-yard pass from Derek Carr (Chris Boswell kick), 1:31. AFC 24–23. Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 2:13.
|stats=
;Top passers
- NFC – Jared Goff – 10/18, 86 yards
- AFC – Alex Smith – 7/10, 131 yards, TD, INT
;Top rushers
- NFC – Mark Ingram II – 5 rushes, 21 yards
- AFC – LeSean McCoy – 3 rushes, 7 yards, TD
;Top receivers
- NFC – Kyle Rudolph – 7 receptions, 70 yards
- AFC – T. Y. Hilton – 4 receptions, 98 yards
}}
AFC rosters
The following players were selected to represent the AFC:
=Offense=
=Defense=
=Special teams=
| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;"
! style="width:20%;"|Position ! style="width:40%;"|Starter ! style="width:40%;"|Alternate(s) |
| align=center|Punter
|{{small| 6}} Brett Kern, Tennessee | |
| align=center|Placekicker
|{{small| 9}} Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh | |
| align=center|Return specialist
|{{small|10}} Tyreek Hill, Kansas City | |
| align=center|Special teamer
|{{small|18}} Matthew Slater, New England{{ref label|Super bowl|d|d}} |{{small|41}} Brynden Trawick, Tennessee{{ref label|replacement|a|a}} |
| align=center|Long snapper
|{{small|46}} Clark Harris, Cincinnati{{cite web | url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/01/16/bengals-long-snapper-clark-harris-selected-for-pro-bowl/ | title=Bengals long snapper Clark Harris selected for Pro Bowl | website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com | date=January 16, 2018 | access-date=January 17, 2018 | author=Williams, Charean}} | |
NFC rosters
The following players were selected to represent the NFC:
=Offense=
=Defense=
=Special teams=
Notes:
Players must have accepted their invitations as alternates to be listed; those who declined are not considered Pro Bowlers.
:bold player who participated in game
:{{small|(C)}} signifies the player has been selected as a captain
:{{note label|replacement|a|a}}Replacement Player selection due to injury or vacancy
:{{note label|injury|b|b}}Injured/suspended player; selected but did not participate
:{{note label|starter|c|c}}Replacement starter; selected as reserve
:{{note label|Super Bowl|d|d}}Selected but did not play because his team advanced to Super Bowl LII (see Pro Bowl "Player Selection" section)
Number of selections per team
| border=0 | |
| valign="top"
| style="padding-left:50px; | {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ American Football Conference | |
| Team | Selections |
|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 10 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 6 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 6 |
| Tennessee Titans | 6 |
| Oakland Raiders | 5 |
| New England Patriots | 4 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 3 |
| Buffalo Bills | 3 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 3 |
| Denver Broncos | 2 |
| Houston Texans | 2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1 |
| New York Jets | 0 |
| style="padding-left:50px; |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ National Football Conference | |
| Team | Selections |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 8 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 7 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7 |
| New Orleans Saints | 7 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 6 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 5 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 4 |
| Carolina Panthers | 4 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4 |
| Washington Redskins | 3 |
| Green Bay Packers | 2 |
| Detroit Lions | 2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2 |
| New York Giants | 1 |
| Chicago Bears | 0 |
|}
Broadcasting
The 2018 Pro Bowl was televised nationally by ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes. The simulcast marked the game's return to broadcast television, as well as its return to ABC for the first time since 2003.{{cite web|title=NFL's Pro Bowl Back on ABC|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/nfl-s-pro-bowl-back-abc/166070|website=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=May 24, 2017}} To accommodate the return to broadcast television, the game moved from primetime to an afternoon start time to avoid interfering with ABC's Primetime Lineup.
Cheerleaders
All selected in a different way, some by fan vote, some by team vote and some by choice of their director, the 2018 Pro Bowl Cheerleaders were a team composed of only one representative from each NFL team. This elite group of women attended events, performed for fans, and learned new routines all throughout the week leading up to the game. The team performed for the entirety of the game and in the half-time routine with Jordan Fisher.
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Team !Cheerleader |
| Arizona Cardinals
|Nikki |
| Atlanta Falcons
|Leslie |
| Baltimore Ravens
|Amanda |
| Carolina Panthers
|Chanadale |
| Cincinnati Bengals
|Kristen |
| Dallas Cowboys
|KaShara |
| Denver Broncos
|Angela |
| Detroit Lions
|Stacey |
| Houston Texans
|Lauren |
| Indianapolis Colts
|Jessica |
| Jacksonville Jaguars
|Ginger |
| Kansas City Chiefs
|Ashley |
| Los Angeles Chargers
|Lauryn |
| Los Angeles Rams
|Sativa-Skye |
| Miami Dolphins
|Allison |
| Minnesota Vikings
|Saral |
| New England Patriots
|Victoria |
| New Orleans Saints
|Marshe' |
| New York Jets
|Kimberly |
| Oakland Raiders
|Angel |
| Philadelphia Eagles
|Symone |
| Seattle Seahawks
|Hailey |
| San Francisco 49ers
|Nina |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|Chloe |
| Tennessee Titans
|Jocelyn |
| Washington Redskins
|Kellie |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.nfl.com/probowl Official website]
{{2017 NFL season by team}}
{{Pro Bowl}}
{{MNF}}
{{NFL on ABC}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pro Bowl}}
Category:2018 in American football
Category:2018 in sports in Florida
Category:2018 in Orlando, Florida
Category:American football competitions in Orlando, Florida