The 2022 NFL Pro Bowl will be played after a one-year hiatus on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. This matchup was canceled last year due to COVID-19. The AFC leads the all-time series 25-22 and is listed as a one-point favorite in the latest 2022 NFL Pro Bowl.
The Super Bowl may be a week away, but there’s still some Sunday afternoon NFL action for football fans to devour. Tom Brady set an NFL record after he was selected for his 15th (and as of now final) Pro Bowl, while the Indianapolis Colts led all teams with seven selections. In the NFC, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Kyler Murray were picked at QB (with Kirk Cousins and Russell Wilson replacing Rodgers and Brady, respectively), while Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson were selected in the AFC.
AFC
OFFENSE
Quarterback (3)
- Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Running back (4)
- Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
- Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
- Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
- Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers (replaces Mixon)
Wide receiver (5)
- Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
- Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
- Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
- Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
- Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (replaces Chase)
Tight end (2)
- Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
- Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Offensive tackle (3)
- Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers
- Orlando Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
- Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills
Offensive guard (4)
- Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
- Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns
- Wyatt Teller, Cleveland Browns
- Rodger Saffold, Tennessee Titans (replaces Nelson)
Center (2)
- Corey Linsley, Los Angeles Chargers
- Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts
Fullback (1)
- Patrick Ricard, Baltimore Ravens
DEFENSE
Defensive end (3)
- Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
- Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
- Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
Interior linemen (4)
- DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
- Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
- Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans (replaces Jones)
Outside linebacker (4)
- T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers
- Matt Judon, New England Patriots
- Harold Landry, Tennessee Titans (replaces Bosa)
Inside/Middle linebacker (2)
- Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
- Denzel Perryman, Las Vegas Raiders
Cornerback (4)
- J.C. Jackson, New England Patriots
- Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins
- Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
- Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Colts
Free safety (1)
- Kevin Byard, Tennessee Titans
Strong safety (2)
- Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
- Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City Chiefs
SPECIAL TEAMS
Long snapper (1)
- Luke Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts
Punter (1)
- A.J. Cole, Las Vegas Raiders
Placekicker (1)
- Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
Return specialist (1)
- Devin Duvernay, Baltimore Ravens
Special teamer (1)
- Matthew Slater, New England Patriots
NFC
OFFENSE
Quarterback (5)
- Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
- Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
- Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (replaces Rodgers)
- Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (replaces Brady)
Running back (3)
- Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
- James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Wide receiver (5)
- Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
- Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
- Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
- Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
- Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (replaces Adams)
Tight end (2)
- George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
- Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Offensive tackle (6)
- Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
- Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys
- D.J. Humphries, Arizona Cardinals (replaces Smith)
- Brian O’Neill, Minnesota Vikings (replaces Wirfs)
- Duane Brown, Seattle Seahawks (replaces Williams)
Offensive guard (3)
- Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
- Brandon Scherff, Washington Football Team
- Ali Marpet, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Center (2)
- Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles
- Ryan Jensen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fullback (1)
- Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers
DEFENSE
Defensive end (3)
- Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
- Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers
- Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints
Interior linemen (5)
- Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
- Jonathan Allen, Washington Football Team
- Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers
- Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia Eagles (replaces Clark)
- Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (replaces Donald)
Outside linebacker (3)
- Chandler Jones, Arizona Cardinals
- Robert Quinn, Chicago Bears
- Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Inside/Middle linebacker (3)
- Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
- Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
- Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (replaces Wagner)
Cornerback (4)
- Trevon Diggs , Dallas Cowboys
- Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams
- Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles
- Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints
Free safety (2)
- Quandre Diggs, Seattle Seahawks
- Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers (replaces Diggs)
Strong safety (2)
- Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
- Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
AFC crew is favored by less than a field goal at the Pro Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 6. Because the level of play is all over the place, it’s always difficult to pick this game. Guys like Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady have pulled out of the NFC side due to injuries and retirements, respectively.
And plenty of the guys who made both teams aren’t there because they’re playing in the Super Bowl next Sunday. Odd how that works out.
What I think is the secret to picking this game is the QB matchups and, in this one, the AFC has a significant advantage. The NFC is fielding Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins (for Rodgers) and Russell Wilson (for Brady). The AFC is bringing out Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes and Mac Jones (for Lamar Jackson).
While Jones doesn’t excite me as a fourth quarter quarterback here, the fact that he’ll probably be facing off against Cousins makes it a little more palpable.
Prediction: AFC -2.5