The NFL Pro Bowl Is as Good as It's Going to Get—and That's OK

Like most things, the NFL Pro Bowl is only as good as the sum of its parts. In a game that, by design, can't be truly competitive, the level of intensity and therefore entertainment largely depends on the individual players participating.

The Pro Bowl has many critics. In 2012, both Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who played in the game, and then-New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins, who didn't, expressed disappointment at the level of effort players put into the game.

But the event also has many fans, who enjoy seeing players from their own teams that they voted in as well as players on other teams they may not get to watch frequently during the regular season. According to Ken Belson of The New York Times, all 63,000 tickets to this year's event were sold.

For those fans and players who want to see the Pro Bowl continue, 2012 was an important turning point. While the Pro Bowl will never have the intensity or stakes of a regular-season NFL game, changes implemented since 2014 have improved the event greatly in its current iteration.

After the embarrassing display in the 2012 game, commissioner Roger Goodell "said that if it could not be more competitive, he was 'inclined not to play it,'" via The New York Times. That got the attention of Domonique Foxworth, then president of the NFLPA.

Together with the league, Foxworth helped implement the rule changes that we first saw in 2014 and again this year, with the goal of keeping the game uptempo while minimizing the risk of injuries, thereby incentivizing players to give more effort.

Rule	Effect
Team Drafting	NFL alumni captains draft teams from among NFC and AFC players.
Game within the Game	"A two-minute warning will be added to the first and third quarters and the ball will change hands after each quarter. This will increase the opportunities for quarterbacks to direct "two-minute drills," which are especially exciting for fans."
No Kickoffs	"The coin toss will determine which team is awarded possession first. The ball will be placed on the 25-yard line at the start of each quarter and after scoring plays."
Rosters	"The rosters will continue to consist of 43 players per squad. The kick return specialist will be replaced by an additional defensive back."
Cover 2 and Press Coverage	"The defense will be permitted to play 'Cover 2' and 'press' coverage. In previous years, only 'man' coverage was permitted, except for goal-line situations."
Stopping of the Game Clock	"Beginning at the two-minute mark of every quarter, if the offense does not gain at least one yard, the clock will stop as if the play were an incomplete pass. This rule will make the team with the ball attempt to gain yardage toward the end of each quarter."
Game Timing	"The game clock will start after an incomplete pass on the signal of the referee, except inside the last two minutes of the first half and the last five minutes of the second half."
Play Clock	"A 35-second/25-second play clock will be adopted instead of the typical 40-second/25-second clock."
Sacks	"The game clock will not stop on quarterback sacks outside of the final two minutes of the game."
Goal Posts	Width will narrow from 18.6 feet to 14 feet.
Extra Points	"Extra points will be moved back to the 15-yard line, making them 33.5-yard attempts." [ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss]
Timeouts	"Teams will be granted two timeouts per quarter instead of the customary three timeouts per half. If teams use just one timeout in the first or third periods, they can carry over one to the second and fourth quarters, respectively." [NFL.com's Marc Sessler]

Gone are the days of NFC- or AFC-exclusive teams; teammates are pitted against one another, while rivals work together. The league added a two-minute warning to allow for the excitement of two-minute drills.

While defenses still cannot play in nickel or dime subpackages, they no longer have to stick to man coverage only—they can now play Cover 2 and press coverage. Sacks do not stop the clock.

And to ensure that the excitement does not wane toward the ends of quarters, beginning at the two-minute mark of each quarter, the game clock stops if the offense does not gain at least one yard.

Additionally, in 2015, the uprights are just 14 feet apart instead of the usual 18.6 feet, posing a challenge to kickers. Considering kickers made 83.9 percent of all field goals in 2014, per ESPN.com, why not up the stakes a little?

The change had its intended effect: Though Adam Vinatieri made all 50 of his extra-point attempts during the 2014 regular season, he missed two of three on Sunday, as well as a 38-yard field goal.

What was blatantly clear Sunday, however, especially compared to 2012, is that the 43 players who comprise each squad have more of an effect than anything on the entertainment value of the game.

Rule changes that minimize their chances of getting hurt—especially those who will become free agents in March—in addition to a modest increase to the winner's take from 2012 ($55,000, up from $50,000) have had a noticeable motivating effect on players overall.

But when players like J.J. Watt, Clay Matthews and Odell Beckham Jr. get voted in, as they did this year, there's a noticeable effect on the entire game. In this way, fans have a hand in designing their own Pro Bowl experience. By voting in fun players who are innately passionate and competitive, the intensity level of the game as a whole goes up.

The game's defensive MVP Watt had an interception and a fumble recovery, proving that he doesn't have an off switch.

Neither, apparently, does Beckham, whose highlight-reel catches haven't stopped just because the regular season has ended. On a double move, Beckham made an incredible grab and hauled in a 48-yard pass from Matthew Stafford.

He followed that up by adding another one-handed catch to his growing collection when he connected with Stafford down the left sideline. Beckham had five receptions for 89 yards.

The alumni captains had a tangible effect on the watchability of the game, as well. Michael Irvin's passion, evident as he ran up and down the sideline and hyped up his players, was a tally in the pro column for the new drafting format.

"We just want to put on a good show," Watt said on the ESPN broadcast after the game. He certainly did his part to make sure that was the case this year, as the overall level of competition and intensity of the game was noticeably higher than the low point in 2012.

Those who continue to criticize the Pro Bowl take issue with the premise as a whole, and that's OK. The truth is, it will never be a smashmouth contact game with long-term implications of any kind, not while players' salaries for the following season are dependent upon their health.

But if the game is going to exist, the current format is an ideal one. Most players still find it an honor to be selected, and special stars like Watt and Beckham actually make the game entertaining. And for all of those who claim not to watch, the event amazingly still pulls in better ratings than most MLB, NHL and NBA playoff games. It may not be the real thing, but for what it is, it can't get much better.