2023 Pro Bowl: Everything you need to know about the reinvented games
Las Vegas, Nevada - The 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games are right around the corner, where the Manning brothers will face off in an AFC v. NFC showdown with the best athletes in the league.
This year's Pro Bowl Games will look a bit different from those of the past.
Eli Manning will be the head coach of the NFC, which he played in for 16 seasons with the New York Giants, while his brother Peyton Manning will lead the AFC, a conference he spent his career playing in between the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos.
As head coaches, they must choose from the 44 available Pro Bowlers who will go head-to-head in eight skills competitions and three seven v. seven flag football games.
Rather than taking place all in one day, this year's revamped Pro Bowl Games will be spread out over two days, with festivities kicking off on Thursday at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center, the Las Vegas Raiders' practice facility.
2023 Pro Bowlers include Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills, Tyreek Hill from the Miami Dolphins, Tyler Huntley and Devin Duvernay from the Baltimore Ravens, Ja'Marr Chase from the Cincinnati Bengals, Nick Chubb from the Cleveland Browns, Davante Adams and Derek Carr from the Las Vegas Raiders, Trevon Diggs from the Dallas Cowboys, Jaire Alexander from the Green Bay Packers, and Trevor Lawrence from the Jacksonville Jaguars, amongst others.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen was set to make a Pro Bowl appearance, but he dropped out due to injury, though he's set to play in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament Thursday through Sunday, per Bills Wire.
Here's what you need to know ahead of the Pro Bowl Games.
2023 Pro Bowl Games adds flag football to the mix
Thursday's skills challenges will include an Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball tournament, a three-part elimination contest called the "Lightning Round," a golf-related longest drive contest, a quarterback passing challenge, and the first round of the Best Catch game.
Sunday's challenges, including the best catch finals, the Gridiron Gauntlet relay race, the Kick Tac Toe game for each team's punter, kicker, and long snapper showcasing their skills, and Move The Chains all lead up to an NFL first: three games of flag football.
The move away from tackle football for the Pro Bowl was made to "create a fresh take on what had become quite stale," and improve player safety, per the NFL's website.
The winner of each challenge will gain three points for the conference to which they belong, and each game of flag football will be worth six points.
While Thursday's events take place at the Raiders' training facility, Sunday's will take place at Allegiant Stadium.
In addition to Peyton, the AFC's Pro Bowl coaching staff includes Ray Lewis as defensive coordinator and Diana Flores as offensive coordinator, while the NFC’s staff includes Eli as head coach, DeMarcus Ware as defensive coordinator, and US flag football player Vanita Krouch as offensive coordinator.
The Pro Bowl Games will be held on Thursday from 7-8:30 PM EST and on Sunday from 3-6 PM EST and will be simulcast on ESPN, ABC, and Disney XD.
Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO / USA TODAY Network & ZUMA Wire