Pro Bowl Format 2015: Updated Rules, Rosters and More for Unconferenced Game
The 2015 Pro Bowl draft wrapped up on Wednesday, as the two teams led by Hall of Fame receivers Cris Carter and Michael Irvin assembled star-studded rosters for the NFL's version of an All-Star game.
This year's showcase will again take place a week before Super Bowl Sunday, but it will also be held in the Super Bowl XLIX venue at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
NFL Network did a nice job summarizing the draft rules for those who needed a refresher:
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Home fans were treated to Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson being the first defender chosen in Wednesday's fantasy selection format. Indianapolis Colts star Andrew Luck was the first pick overall, just as he was a year ago and in the actual 2012 NFL draft.
Irvin opted to go with Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett and his staff to coach up his loaded bunch, leaving John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens to coach Team Carter.
Check out the complete rosters below, along with a preview of what to expect in the unconferenced showdown featuring many of the NFL's best players from this last season.
| HC John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens | HC Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys |
| Offense | Offense |
| QB Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts | QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys |
| QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints | QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions |
| QB Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals | QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons |
| RB Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs | RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys |
| RB Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens | RB Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints |
| RB Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins | RB C.J. Anderson, Denver Broncos |
| FB John Kuhn, Green Bay Packers | FB Marcel Reese, Oakland Raiders |
| WR Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers | WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants |
| WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals | WR Golden Tate, Detroit Lions |
| WR T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts | WR Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers |
| WR Jordy Nelson, Packers | WR Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos |
| TE Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears | TE Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints |
| TE Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers | TE Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys |
| OT Joe Staley, San Francisco 49ers (No. 13) | OT Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys |
| OT Duane Brown, Houston Texans | OTJoe Thomas, Cleveland Browns |
| OT Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos | OT Trent Williams, Washington Redskins |
| C Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers | C Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys |
| C Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles | C Nick Mangold, New York Jets |
| G Mike Pouncey, Miami Dolphins | G Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys |
| G Josh Sitton, Green Bay Packers | G Kyle Long, Chicago Bears |
| G Evan Mathis, Philadelphia Eagles | G Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens |
| Defense | Defense |
| DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans | DE Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins |
| DE Mario Williams, Buffalo Bills | DE Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams |
| DE Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals | DE DeMarcus Ware, Denver Broncos |
| DT Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills | DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams |
| DT Kyle Williams, Buffalo Bills | DT Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets |
| DT Dontari Poe, Kansas City Chiefs | DT Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals |
| LB Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs | LB Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers |
| LB C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens | LB Von Miller, Denver Broncos |
| LB Connor Barwin, Philadelphia Eagles | LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers |
| LB Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs | LB Elvis Dumervil, Baltimore Ravens |
| LB Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburgh Steelers | LB D'Qwell Jackson, Indianapolis Colts |
| CB Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals | CB Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns |
| CB Aqib Talib, Denver Broncos | CB Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts |
| CB Antonio Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals | CB Brent Grimes, Miami Dolphins |
| CB Sam Shields, Green Bay Packers | CB Chris Harris, Denver Broncos |
| S Donte Whitner, Cleveland Browns | S T.J. Ward, Denver Broncos |
| S Glover Quin, Detroit Lions | S Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers |
| S Antoine Bethea, San Francisco 49ers | S Mike Adams, Indianapolis Colts |
| Special Teams | Special Teams |
| ST Justin Bethel, Arizona Cardinals | ST Darrell Stuckey, San Diego Chargers |
| KR Devin Hester, Atlanta Falcons | KR Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles |
| P Pat McAfee, Indianapolis Colts | P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati Bengals |
| K Cody Parkey, Philadelphia Eagles | K Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts |
| LS L.P. Ladouceur, Dallas Cowboys | LS Jon Dorenbos, Philadelphia Eagles |
2015 Pro Bowl Analysis, Prediction
Call Irvin a homer for picking a ton of Cowboys, but this should actually work to his team's advantage in the Pro Bowl.
Three of Dallas' five starting offensive linemen are on Team Irvin, with Tony Romo under center and NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray. It should be no problem for all of them to assimilate and get all of their side's stars on the same page.
Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com observed how longtime Cowboy and current Denver pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware will reunite with many familiar faces:
Not to mention, Romo is throwing to usual division nemesis Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants, along with his old reliable tight end target in Jason Witten and the dynamic Jimmy Graham. Talk about some serious weaponry.
Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post weighed in on Beckham's high draft status on Wednesday:
"Odell Beckham was the fourth overall pick as a rookie in the Pro Bowl draft tonight. The sky is truly the limit with this unreal talent.
— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) January 22, 2015"
It's a good thing Team Carter loaded up on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the trenches. Watching Houston Texans star J.J. Watt next to supremely athletic Kansas City nose tackle Dontari Poe will be can't-miss viewing material as they clash with a Dallas-dominant line.
Three Buffalo Bills in Mario and Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus comprise Team Carter's defensive front as well, which is the team's clear area of strength.
Where Carter and Co. may have gone awry is in stocking the secondary with talented but inconsistent players such as Peterson, another home Cardinal in Antonio Cromartie and Sam Shields. They'll have a hard time matching up with Beckham, Golden Tate, Randall Cobb and Emmanuel Sanders, who can all create after the catch against those corners.
Indianapolis Colts standout corner Vontae Davis is excited to go against his own QB and frequent practice-field adversary T.Y. Hilton:
Not sure if Team Carter realized this when it was choosing for the most important position, but it wound up with Andrew Luck—the top overall pick—Drew Brees and an assigned Andy Dalton.
Brees and Dalton tied for third in the NFL in 2014 by throwing 17 interceptions, while Luck tossed 16 picks of his own. There is enough pass-rushing firepower on Team Irvin to force those error-prone signal-callers into mistakes, not to mention better cover corners on the back end.
While the two sides should be even in theory, it appears as though Team Irvin has the makings of a 2015 Pro Bowl winner.
Prediction: Team Irvin 35, Team Carter 24
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