Tag: 2023 Pro Bowl Games

Giants’ Saquon Barkley dazzles in dodgeball at Pro Bowl Games

New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley saved the NFC from a Thursday night sweep at the hands of the AFC with a dazzling dodgeball display.

The NFC took quite a beating in the skills competition on Thursday night at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games. They lost in precision passing, the lightning round, and the longest drive competition.

They were at risk of being swept on the first night before New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley stepped in.

With the AFC on the brink of a 12-0 lead, Barkley recalled the words of Patches O’Houlihan and began to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge en route to a key NFC victory.

Barkley did take a dodgeball to the head late in the match but per the “official rules,” headshots are not permitted. Therefore, Barkley was able to stay alive and eventually sealed the win by taking out New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis.

Entering a pivotal offseason, Giants running back Saquon Barkley’s agility and elusiveness were front and center for all to see. In a one-on-one showdown with the Saints’ Demario Davis, Barkley was side-stepping Davis’ shots with jaw-dropping maneuvering. Dodgeball or not, it was a marvel to see. Then he used his head, literally, to lead the NFC offense to a victory. Davis looked to have won the matchup when he fired a shot that nailed Barkley, but the Big Blue RB immediately pointed to his head and pointed out that per the official Pro Bowl Games Rulebook (not sure if that exists, actually), head shots are disallowed. Thusly, Saquon led his team to a triumph with some elite footwork and field generalship. It also led to the NFC offense winning the dodgeball tournament and preventing a shutout on the first day of the games.

Thanks to Barkley, the NFC was able to put three points on the board and will head into Sunday’s competition finale trailing 9-3.

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Watch: Trevor Lawrence scores 19 in Precision Passing at Pro Bowl Games

Trevor Lawrence and the other two AFC quarterbacks got a win in the first event of the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

The 2023 Pro Bowl Games got started Thursday evening and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence kicked off the festivities.

The Jaguars’ second-year quarterback — who was named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for the Super Bowl-bound Patrick Mahomes — was the first participant of the first event: Precision Passing.

Lawrence, 23, got the Pro Bowl Games started on a decent note, putting up a respectable 19 points in the event:

While the checkdown wasn’t working for Lawrence, his 19-point performance was part of a 71-55 win for the AFC to kick off the Pro Bowl Games.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr led the six quarterbacks with 31 points, 10 more than any other player participating.

Lawrence joined the Jaguars as the first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but finished his rookie season with 12 touchdowns and an NFL-most 17 interceptions. He made massive strides in year two, finishing the 2022 season with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Jaguars return specialist Jamal Agnew is the only other Jacksonville player represented at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

2023 Pro Bowl Games: Geno Smith named a Precision Passing contestant

Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith has been named one of six quarterbacks to compete in the Precision Passing event in the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

The NFL is gearing up for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games this week, including the Precision Passing contest featuring select AFC and NFC quarterbacks.

Three signal callers were named from each conference, including Seahawks QB Geno Smith.

Here’s the lineup for Thursday’s event:

AFC      NFC
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars      Kirk Cousins, Vikings
Tyler Huntley, Ravens      Geno Smith, Seahawks
Derek Carr, Raiders      Jared Goff, Lions

You can watch the reveal below.

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Jamal Agnew gets spot as AFC returner in 2023 Pro Bowl

Jamal Agnew will replace the Ravens’ Devin Duvernay at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be represented at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games, after all. On Monday, the NFL announced that Jamal Agnew will be the return specialist for the AFC next week.

Devin Duvernay of the Baltimore Ravens originally earned the spot, but suffered a broken bone in his foot in December.

Agnew, 27, earned All-Pro honors during his rookie season with the Detroit Lions, but is now a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career. While he didn’t record a return touchdown this season, Agnew averaged 8.2 yards per punt return and 26 yards per kick return.

In the Jaguars’ two playoff games, Agnew averaged 37.9 yards per kick return, including a 63-yarder against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Agnew is the Jaguars’ first Pro Bowler since four players — Calais Campbell, Jalen Ramsey, D.J. Chark, and Josh Allen — received the honors in 2019.

Prior to Monday’s announcement, the Jaguars and the Chicago Bears (owners of the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft) were the only two teams without a player in the 2023 Pro Bowl.

Seahawks veteran QB Geno Smith earns 1st Pro Bowl nod of his career

After 10 years in the NFL mostly as a backup, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith has finally earned his first Pro Bowl nod.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith has come a long way in his 10-year career to finally earn his first nod onto a Pro Bowl roster. Smith is among four Seattle players who were named to the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

Smith was originally selected by the Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft out of West Virginia. He was inconsistent throughout his first two seasons as a starter before serving in a backup role his last two years in New York. He next spent time as a backup with the Giants and the Chargers before signing with Seattle in 2019.

After backing up quarterback Russell Wilson for three seasons, Smith earned his chance to start for Seattle in 2022 and has never looked back. He now heads the league in completion percentage with a whopping 71.4. In addition, Smith has the second-best passer rating (105.3), ranks fourth in passing touchdowns (26), sixth in completions (337), seventh in yards (3,671) and is tied for ninth place in attempts (472).

All that from a guy who many considered a career backup at best.

“Honestly, my focus is on this week and this game,” Smith told reporters Wednesday before hearing of his honor. “Obviously, those things are personal accolades, but I’m focused on the team part of it. It’s really important for us to go out there and get a win. It’s a crucial part of our season. We got three games left to figure out what we are going to do here.

“I’ve just been focused on that and locked in on that.”

Congrats to Smith and the rest of the Seahawks who will be representing Seattle and the NFC in the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

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4 Seahawks voted to Pro Bowl Games roster, 6 named as alternates

The NFL has announced that four Seattle Seahawks players have been voted onto the 2023 Pro Bowl Games roster and six named as alternates.

The Seattle Seahawks chances of making the playoffs this season might be dwindling, but that didn’t stop four players from making the 2023 Pro Bowl Games roster. In addition, six members of Seattle’s squad were also named as alternates.

The 2023 Pro Bowl Games will showcase the AFC vs. NFC in competitions featuring Flag football and Pro Bowl Skills. The games will air from Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 12:00 p.m. PT on ABC and ESPN.

 

Seahawks Tariq Woolen tops NFC with most Pro Bowl fan votes at CB

Now that the fan votes have been tallied, Seattle Seahawks rookie Tariq Woolen tops the NFC’s Pro Bowl Games ballot at cornerback.

Seattle Seahawks rookie Tariq Woolen is having a stellar rookie season and can now add another honor to his impressive resume.  The final fan votes for the upcoming 2023 Pro Bowl Games have been tallied and Woolen was the NFC’s top vote-getter at the cornerback position.

Woolen racked up an impressive 166,954 total fan votes.

The Pro Bowl games roster is determined by votes from fans, coaches and players, with each group’s vote given one-third weight. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa topped the charts to lead all players in the fan balloting.

The 2023 Pro Bowl Games rosters will be announced at 5:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Dec. 21, live on the NFL Network.

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