Whether you’re a fan or not, the NFL’s rendition of an all-star game will take place this Sunday at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.
The Pro Bowl has been criticized crucially in recent years, with lack of effort being put forth by players at the forefront of complaints. Even with threats of the Pro Bowl being cancelled, fans will be tuning in and watching for another year.
For the third year, the NFL will pit two unconferenced teams against one another. Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin have drafted their teams in hopes of coming out on top. Here’s a look at each of the team’s notable players.
| Team Irvin
Russell Wilson, QB Devonta Freeman, RB (captain) Todd Gurley, RB A.J. Green, WR Julio Jones, WR DeAndre Hopkins, WR Tyler Eifert, TE Carlos Dunlap, DE Ezekiel Ansah, DE Michael Bennett, DE Geno Atkins, DT (captain) Anthony Barr, OLB Lavonte David, LB Richard Sherman, CB Desmond Trufant, CB Adam Jones, CB Malcom Jenkins, S |
Team Rice
Eli Manning, QB Adrian Peterson, RB Doug Martin, RB Odell Beckham, WR (captain) Jarvis Landry, WR Amari Cooper, WR Travis Kelce, TE Khalil Mack, DE Everson Griffen, DE Cameron Jordan, DE Aaron Donald, DT (captain) Tamba Hali, OLB Julius Peppers, LB Marcus Peters, CB Vontae Davis, CB Eric Berry, S Charles Woodson, SS |
Skimming through the key players appears to give Michael Irvin’s team a clear advantage on offense. They seem to have a better option at every single position when compared to Jerry Rice’s. On the defensive side of the ball, the gap is closed, with Irvin’s team having a slight advantage.
If the quarterback position is in fact the most important on the field, Irvin’s squad should be in good shape. He owns one of the most dynamic signal-callers in the game, while Team Rice owns a one-dimensional quarterback who somehow got selected to another Pro Bowl.
Somehow, Jerry Rice let top of the line receivers get drafted to Michael Irvin’s team, as Team Irvin’s top three wideouts are clearly better than that of Rice’s.
Two aging defensive backs came off their best seasons and found themselves rostered on Michael Irvin’s team. Malcom Jenkins and Adam Jones both had huge seasons, paving way for each player’s first Pro Bowl appearance in their career.
I have in now way any bias towards Michael Irvin, but the fact is that he put together a far superior offense and solid enough defense to make me believe this game is in his team’s hands.
In games like these, defense is not usually the the factor in which team wins or loses. The game will be a shootout, and Team Rice will be unable to keep up. I’m taking Team Irvin to handle Team Rice by a final tally of 48-37.
Will you be watching the Pro Bowl this year, or does the game no longer suit your fancy? Let me know in the forum, or talk to me on twitter (@timmyymiller).