The 2018 Pro Bowl was the National Football League's all-star game for the 2017 season, which was played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on January 28, 2018. For the first time since 2009, the game started during afternoon hours instead of primetime hours for U.S. Mainland viewers with a 3 p.m. ET start. It marked the second year the game was played in Orlando. It was televised nationally by ESPN and simulcasted on ABC. The roster was announced on December 19 on NFL Network. The AFC team won the game 24–23, the second straight year the Pro Bowl was won by the AFC.
Background
Host selection process Under a three-year deal that began in 2017, the Pro Bowl will once again be hosted by Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Side events The Pro Bowl Skills Challenge was held on January 25 at the Walt Disney World Resort and its ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Game format
Rule changes The game format was the same as for 2017, highlighted by: Forty-four players were assigned to each team, up from 43 in 2016 (a regular game-day active roster has 46). The two-minute warning that was given in the first and third quarters (in addition to the second and fourth quarters) in previous years was eliminated, and the ball did not change hands after the first and third quarters. The coin toss determined which team was awarded possession first. There were no kickoffs; the ball was placed on the 25-yard line at the start of each half and after scoring plays. Defenses were now permitted to play cover two and press coverage. Prior to 2014, only man coverage was allowed, except for goal line situations. A 38-second/25-second play clock was used instead of the usual 40-second/25-second clock, and up from 35-second/25-second clock in 2016. Replay reviews will be allowed; previously there was replay in the Pro Bowl only when new equipment tests were being conducted. There are no intentional grounding rules. Only defensive ends and tackles may rush on passing plays, but those must be on the same side of the ball. The defense is not permitted to blitz. All blindside blocks and blocks below the waist are illegal. A tight end and running back must be in every formation. No more than two wide receivers on either side of the ball. Deep middle safety must be aligned inside the hash marks. Play is stopped the moment a defender wraps his arms around the ball carrier. (This rule only applies to the quarterback in the backfield during regular NFL play.)
Summary
Box score
AFC rosters The following players were selected to represent the AFC:
Offense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Quarterback Tom Brady, New England Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Philip Rivers, LA Chargers Alex Smith, Kansas City Derek Carr, OaklandRunning back Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Kareem Hunt, Kansas CityFullback James Develin, New England Roosevelt Nix, PittsburghWide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Keenan Allen, LA Chargers A. J. Green, Cincinnati T. Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Jarvis Landry, MiamiTight end Travis Kelce, Kansas City Rob Gronkowski, New England Delanie Walker, Tennessee Jack Doyle, IndianapolisOffensive tackle Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Alejandro Villanueva, Pittsburgh Donald Penn, Oakland Russell Okung, LA ChargersOffensive guard David DeCastro, Pittsburgh Kelechi Osemele, Oakland Richie Incognito, BuffaloCenter Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Rodney Hudson, Oakland
Defense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Defensive end Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Joey Bosa, LA Chargers Khalil Mack, Oakland Melvin Ingram, LA Chargers Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Yannick Ngakoue, JacksonvilleDefensive tackle Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Malik Jackson, JacksonvilleOutside linebacker Von Miller, Denver Jadeveon Clowney, Houston Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Telvin Smith, JacksonvilleInside linebacker C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ryan Shazier, Pittsburgh Joe Schobert, ClevelandCornerback Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville A. J. Bouye, Jacksonville Aqib Talib, Denver Casey Hayward, LA ChargersFree safety Eric Weddle, Baltimore Micah Hyde, BuffaloStrong safety Reshad Jones, Miami Kevin Byard, Tennessee
Special teams
PositionStarterAlternate(s)Punter Brett Kern, TennesseePlacekicker Chris Boswell, PittsburghReturn specialist Tyreek Hill, Kansas CitySpecial teamer Matthew Slater, New England Brynden Trawick, TennesseeLong snapper Clark Harris, Cincinnati
NFC rosters The following players were selected to represent the NFC:
Offense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Quarterback Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Russell Wilson, Seattle Drew Brees, New Orleans Jared Goff, LA RamsRunning back Todd Gurley, LA Rams Mark Ingram II, New Orleans Alvin Kamara, New OrleansFullback Kyle Juszczyk, San FranciscoWide receiver Julio Jones, Atlanta Adam Thielen, Minnesota Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Michael Thomas, New Orleans Davante Adams, Green Bay Doug Baldwin, SeattleTight end Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Jimmy Graham, Seattle Jason Witten, Dallas Kyle Rudolph, MinnesotaOffensive tackle Trent Williams, Washington Tyron Smith, Dallas Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Andrew Whitworth, LA Rams Joe Staley, San Francisco Duane Brown, SeattleOffensive guard Zack Martin, Dallas Brandon Brooks, Philadelphia Brandon Scherff, Washington Trai Turner, Carolina T. J. Lang, Detroit Larry Warford, New OrleansCenter Alex Mack, Atlanta Travis Frederick, Dallas
Defense
PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Everson Griffen, Minnesota Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Michael Bennett, SeattleDefensive tackle Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Aaron Donald, LA Rams Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Mike Daniels, Green Bay Linval Joseph, MinnesotaOutside linebacker Chandler Jones, Arizona Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Anthony Barr, Minnesota Thomas Davis Sr., CarolinaInside linebacker Luke Kuechly, Carolina Bobby Wagner, Seattle Deion Jones, Atlanta Kwon Alexander, Tampa BayCornerback Patrick Peterson, Arizona Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Darius Slay, Detroit Free safety Earl Thomas, Seattle Malcolm Jenkins, PhiladelphiaStrong safety Landon Collins, NY Giants Keanu Neal, Atlanta Harrison Smith, Minnesota
Special teams
PositionStarterAlternate(s)Punter Johnny Hekker, LA RamsPlacekicker Greg Zuerlein, LA Rams Graham Gano, CarolinaReturn specialist Pharoh Cooper, LA RamsSpecial teamer Budda Baker, ArizonaLong snapper Jake McQuaide, LA Rams
Notes: Players must have accepted their invitations as alternates to be listed; those who declined are not considered Pro Bowlers.
bold player who participated in game signifies the player has been selected as a captain Replacement Player selection due to injury or vacancy Injured/suspended player; selected but did not participate Replacement starter; selected as reserve Selected but did not play because his team advanced to Super Bowl LII (see Pro Bowl "Player Selection" section)
Number of selections per team + American Football Conference Team Selections Pittsburgh Steelers 10 Jacksonville Jaguars 6 Los Angeles Chargers 6 Tennessee Titans 6 Oakland Raiders 5 New England Patriots 4 Kansas City Chiefs 4 Baltimore Ravens 3 Buffalo Bills 3 Cincinnati Bengals 3 Denver Broncos 2 Houston Texans 2 Indianapolis Colts 2 Miami Dolphins 2 Cleveland Browns 1 New York Jets 0+ National Football Conference Team Selections Los Angeles Rams 8 Seattle Seahawks 7 Minnesota Vikings 7 New Orleans Saints 7 Philadelphia Eagles 6 Dallas Cowboys 5 Arizona Cardinals 4 Carolina Panthers 4 Atlanta Falcons 4 Washington Redskins 3 Green Bay Packers 2 Detroit Lions 2 San Francisco 49ers 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2 New York Giants 1 Chicago Bears 0
Broadcasting The 2018 Pro Bowl was televised nationally by ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes. The simulcast marked the game's return to broadcast television since 2014, as well as its return to ABC for the first time since 2003. To accommodate the return to broadcast television, the game moved from primetime to an afternoon start time to avoid interfering with ABC's Primetime Lineup.
Cheerleaders All selected in a different way, some by fan vote, some by team vote and some by choice of their director, the 2018 Pro Bowl Cheerleaders were a team composed of only one representative from each NFL team. This elite group of women attended events, performed for fans, and learned new routines all throughout the week leading up to the game. The team performed for the entirety of the game and in the half-time routine with Jordan Fisher. +TeamCheerleaderArizona CardinalsNikkiAtlanta FalconsLeslieBaltimore RavensAmandaCarolina PanthersChandalaeCincinnati BengalsKristenDallas CowboysKaSharaDenver BroncosAngelaDetroit LionsStaceyHouston TexansLaurenIndianapolis ColtsJessica Jacksonville JaguarsGinger Kansas City ChiefsAshleyLos Angeles ChargersLaurynLos Angeles RamsSativa-SkyeMiami DolphinsAllisonMinnesota VikingsSaralNew England PatriotsVictoriaNew Orleans SaintsMarshe'New York JetsKimberlyOakland RaidersAngelPhiladelphia EaglesSymoneSeattle SeahawksHaileySan Francisco 49ersNinaTampa Bay BuccaneersChloe Tennessee TitansJocelyn Washington RedskinsKellie
References
External links Official website