Bowled over

by UK American Sports Fans

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We all get a break from the post season action this weekend, with the annual Pro Bowl in Hawaii, where the best of the AFC faces off against the best of the NFC (minus the Super Bowl participants and those who are still tired or injured from playoff games).

So what I meant to say is that the almost best of the AFC faces up against the almost best of the NFC.

I know, I’m a cynic when it comes to this once a season spectacular, but to its credit, it nearly always provides some great high-scoring entertainment.

Last year’s Pro Bowl finished in a 55-41 victory for the NFC over the AFC, with the NFC racing into a 42-0 lead before the AFC ‘battled back’ to make a contest of the game. There were interception returns, fumble returns, and a double lateral touchdown for the AFC in a game that no-one could call boring.

But when you look at the additional rules that teams have to play to during the Pro Bowl, it’s no surprise that these contests are big play explosions, the NFL says these rules are to ‘make the game safer.’

  • No motion or shifting by the offense
  • Offense must have a tight end in all formations
  • Offense can’t have 3 receivers on a side
  • Intentional grounding is legal
  • Defense must run a 4-3 at all times
  • No press coverage except inside the 5 yard line
  • No blitz
  • Not allowed to rush a Punt, PAT or FG attempt
  • No calls can be challenged

Some of these rules have a minimum impact, but rules like ‘no blitzing’ and ‘intentional grounding is legal’ surely takes away the very point of selecting the best pass rushing defensive ends and linebackers in the squads, as you can only bring a few players on the pass rush, and even if they get to the QB, he can simply throw the ball down wherever he wants to.

And while I moan and complain, these rules, as we have seen before, do contribute to an entertaining, fast paced game of football, which for drawing in new fans to the sport, is a fantastic way of doing it, but for hardened, experienced watchers of the NFL, is not really what we want to see.

But another plus point of the Pro Bowl is that you get to see your favourite players linking up with other big timers in the league. For example, this year, expect to see Aaron Rodgers throwing to Larry Fitzgerald for the NFC and on the other side, Ben Roethlisberger handing the ball off to Maurice Jones Drew for the AFC.

Defensively, the NFC will be combining the talents of Jared Allen, Justin Smith and DeMarcus Ware, while the AFC have Tamba Hali, Ray Lewis and Darelle Revis attempting to stop the NFC winning their second Pro Bowl in a row.

Green Bay’s coaching staff will be taking charge of the NFC’s squad, while Gary Kubiak and the Texans staff will direct the AFC’s men, two coaching staffs with either a proven track record or a record that has been forged this season, especially in the case of the Texans.

So if you like a shootout and some fast paced offensive action, the Pro bowl is the game for you, if not, there’s another bowl being played this weekend, with players who will be the future of the NFL in it called the Senior Bowl. You might want to watch that instead.