As the inaugural Pro Bowl Games approach, the all-star lineups are set.
Head coaches Peyton and Eli Manning unveiled who will be taking part in specific skills competitions for their respective AFC and NFC squads on Wednesday’s Pro Bowl Games Selection Show.
The Pro Bowl Games action will kick off Thursday on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET with five skills challenges, and the games will conclude at 3 p.m. ET Sunday with more skills events and a trio of flag football games in the first rendition of a new look to the NFL’s annual all-star showdown at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on ABC/ESPN.
The NFC squad will be led by top vote-getter Justin Jefferson, one of seven Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowlers, taking part in the best catch competition. Jefferson’s contemporary, the Buffalo Bills’ Stefon Diggs, will also vie for the best catch title.
Best catch is one of eight skills challenges on the docket for the initial Pro Bowl Games, which culminate with flag football games on Sunday featuring each skill position Pro Bowler. Each and every challenge and game will earn points for the winning conference to set up a score going into the third and final Pro Bowl flag game on Sunday to determine the conference champion.
The cumulative scoring breakdown will see the winning conference of each skill competition tally three points, with 24 total points available across the eight skills competitions.
Below is the complete breakdown of the Pro Bowl Games events and competitors:
Best Catch (first round Thursday; finale Sunday)
Best catch features two players from each conference in a competition showcasing their creativity, inventiveness and talent. Thursday’s first round will see highlight reels from players shot at iconic venues around Las Vegas. A fan vote online will determine their favorite catch by a player in each conference, with the highest vote-getters moving on to compete in Sunday’s finale.
Precision Passing (Thursday)
Precision passing will see each conference’s quarterbacks square off in one-minute accuracy competitions.
Longest Drive (Thursday)
The longest drive competition will show off players' prowess driving a golf ball.
Lightning Round (Thursday)
The lightning round will feature players competing in a three-part elimination challenge. The first event is splash catch, with duos from each conference doing a water balloon toss. Thereafter will be the high-stakes portion in which players will attempt to catch punts from a JUGS machine. In the last part of the challenge -- thrill of the spill -- the remaining players from each conference will take aim at targets attached to a bucket hanging over the head of an opposing coach. The first team to dump a bucket on a coach wins.
Dodgeball (Thursday)
The middle-school classic dodgeball will be the centerpiece of a multi-round tournament with four teams of five players. It will begin with the offensive and defensive teams playing interconference games, with the winners advancing for an NFC-AFC finale.
Kick Tac Toe (Sunday)
Each team’s kicker, punter and long snapper will compete in a tic-tac-toe competition in the kick tac toe event.
Flag Football (Sunday)
The flag football finale on Sunday will feature three games with the AFC and NFC rosters’ skill position players along with centers, who snap and kneel as is customary in seven-on-seven competition.
Gridiron Gauntlet (Sunday)
The gridiron gauntlet is a side-by-side relay race that will highlight players' speed and agility as they climb walls, go under tables, navigate a tire run and push a blocking sled with a coach upon it.
Move The Chains (Sunday)
Move the chains will have two teams from each conference compete in a best-of-three weighted 10-yard wall pull.
To attend the Pro Bowl Games, fans can visit ProBowl.com/tickets.