Pro Bowl 2016: TV Schedule and Live Stream for Team Rice vs. Team Irvin

Nobody thought the most controversial game of the NFL season would be the 2016 Pro Bowl, but that's where the globe stands on the matter ahead of Sunday's Team Rice vs. Team Irvin showdown.

Make no mistake, the Pro Bowl is always, at least in a way, controversial. Players missing out on a bid and others receiving bids despite some thinking they are unworthy tend to give it that flair.

This year is different, though, with an historic number of declines from players. While plenty of big names will miss the event, Hall of Fame wide receivers Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin drafted notable rosters in a fantasy football format and will square off in a game that looks like something right out of a fantasy football encounter.

Controversy or not, it's hard to suggest fans should also decline.

Game Details

When: Sunday, January 31 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii

Television: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Draft Results

Round Pick	Player
1	QB Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
2	WR Julio Jones (Falcons)
3	CB Richard Sherman (Seahawks)
4	DE Ezekiel Ansah (Lions)
5	DE Michael Bennett (Seahawks)
6	WR A.J. Green (Bengals)
7	WR DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
8	RB Todd Gurley (Rams)
9	OLB Anthony Barr (Vikings)
10	CB Desmond Trufant (Falcons)
11	WR Allen Robinson (Jaguars)
12	LB Lavonte David (Buccaneers)
13	TE Tyler Eifert (Bengals)
14	QB Jameis Winston (Buccaneers)
15	DE Carlos Dunlap (Bengals)
16	QB Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings)
17	TE Delanie Walker (Titans)
18	S Reshad Jones (Dolphins)
19	OLB Sean Lee (Cowboys)
20	CB Adam Jones (Bengals)
21	RB Latavius Murray (Raiders)
22	S Malcolm Jenkins (Eagles)
23	CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Giants)
24	FS Harrison Smith (Vikings)

Round	Player
1	QB Eli Manning (Giants)
2	DE Khalil Mack (Raiders)
3	WR Jarvis Landry (Dolphins)
4	QB Derek Carr (Raiders)
5	WR Amari Cooper (Raiders)
6	CB Marcus Peters (Chiefs)
7	RB Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
8	OLB Tamba Hali (Chiefs)
9	DE Everson Griffen (Vikings)
10	CB Vontae Davis (Colts)
11	WR T.Y. Hilton (Colts)
12	CB Brent Grimes (Dolphins)
13	RB Doug Martin (Buccaneers)
14	TE Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
15	S Eric Berry (Chiefs)
16	LB Julius Peppers (Packers)
17	DE Cameron Jordan (Saints)
18	QB Tyrod Taylor (Bills)
19	TE Gary Barnidge (Browns)
20	OLB Elvis Dumervil (Ravens)
21	RB Chris Ivory (Jets)
22	CB Jason Verrett (Chargers)
23	SS Mike Adams (Colts)
24	SS Charles Woodson (Raiders)

First, the controversy.

The Pro Bowl had to go out of its way to replace a bevy of names thanks to the Super Bowl matchup between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers, not that having to do so is much of a surprise.

The staggering number of declines is, though. ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert provided details about players who took a pass and how it stacks up in historical context:

"As of Tuesday afternoon, the official number of players either voted to the Pro Bowl or added as an alternate had reached 133. That's the highest number in NFL history, according to Elias Sports Bureau research, and well beyond the previous high of 119 set after the 2009 season."

To add to the "wow" factor, even Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy won't take part in the proceedings, though ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the cause of his absence was due to illness: 

Either way, McCarthy's absence speaks to the bigger dilemma the game faces by the year, which an innovative fantasy draft and involvement of legends doesn't seem to stave off.

The Pro Bowl's biggest hope for the future is also the biggest reason fans should want to catch every second of the action—the league's next big superstars. 

Seriously, look at Team Irvin. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson leads the way, but it's his young, eye-popping cast of weapons that makes this incredible. Julio Jones, A.J. Green, DeAndre Hopkins and Allen Robinson all had at least 1,297 receiving yards in 2015 and combined for 43 touchdowns.

Eugene Tanner/Associated Press

When Wilson isn't on the field, the ball goes to rookie Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who completed 58.3 percent of his passes with 22 touchdowns to 15 interceptions this year.

Then there's Teddy Bridgewater of the Minnesota Vikings, who is just 23 years old, completed 65.3 percent of his passes this year and led the team to an NFC North crown.

It's the same trend with Team Rice. Eli Manning would be the veteran quarterback there, but it's his weapons who take the spotlight. Young guys like Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Amari Cooper and T.Y. Hilton are all on the way to superstar status at quite a young age.

At quarterback, Oakland Raiders leader Derek Carr enters Hawaii after a season in which he threw for 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns. Drafted later was Tyrod Taylor of the Buffalo Bills, who suddenly looks like a franchise quarterback after a season in which he threw for 3,035 yards, ran for 568 more and totaled 24 touchdowns.

One thing viewers won't have to worry about? Jerseys. The NFL got a little weird about them on certain editions of Thursday Night Football, but Sunday, well, let's allow a post by the Miami Dolphins to do the talking:

As much as the headlines around this year's Pro Bowl have focused on its struggles, the game clearly has a lot going for it, including the looks.

The Pro Bowl has changed a lot over the years. Innovation helps, as does it sitting on the weekend before the Super Bowl.

It's really about perspective this time. The outlook of the game has changed from an all-star spectacle to more of a showcase featuring the next big things the league has to offer. Viewed in that light, this Pro Bowl looks like it won't have a problem being a success.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and are accurate as of January 30. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All betting information courtesy of Odds Shark.