The 2024 NFL Pro Bowl is nearly here, as many of the league’s best players are set to gather in Orlando, Fla., for a variety of events, including a flag football game to cap off the weekend. Let’s dive into the format and what fans can expect to see from the NFL’s annual event.
Format for the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl
The Pro Bowl festivities feature two main events, starting with Thursday’s Skills Showdown, followed by Sunday’s Pro Bowl Games Championship.
The latter will be a flag football game featuring all of the league’s Pro Bowl selections, split into two teams representing their respective conferences. The San Francisco 49ers lead the way with nine Pro Bowl selections, including eight starters, though those players will not participate and will be replaced by alternates due to the 49ers reaching the Super Bowl.
Ditto on the Kansas City Chiefs’ five selections, though plenty of high-level players will still be part of the festivities.
Peyton and Eli Manning will be the head coaches for the AFC and NFC teams, respectively. Wes Welker and Ray Lewis will be the offensive and defensive coordinators for the AFC squad, while Keenan McCardell and DeMarcus Ware will hold the same roles for the NFC squad. All of them are former standout NFL players.
As for the game’s rules, it will remain a four-quarter contest as usual with touchdowns worth the standard six points. Teams can attempt to score one extra point from the five-yard line or two from the 10-yard line.
The game will be played on a 50-yard field with 10-yard end zones at either end, making for 70 yards of length in all. It’s also 30 yards wide, allowing for plenty of side-to-side play between the two seven-man teams.
MORE: NFL Pro Bowl 2024 — Location, Date, Start Time, and Rosters
Teams start with the ball on their five-yard line and have four downs to cross midfield for a first down. They can elect to “punt” on third downs and give the other team the ball at its five-yard line, or they can go for it with the other team taking possession from the spot of the ball if it is not converted.
Other key rules for the game are that all passes must travel forward, with laterals and pitches not allowed.
The flag football format was first introduced for the Pro Bowl in 2023 as a way to promote the game across the United States and the world with the NFL hoping it can increase levels of participation as a result.
The league will also hold the NFL Flag Football Championships during the event, where teams from across the globe compete against one another after qualifying from regional events.
It’s all part of a revamped effort the league hopes can generate more interest in Pro Bowl festivities.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
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