Although their team of NFC All Stars fell short to a late come from behind victory to the AFC, the Carolina Panthers were represented well in Orlando in yesterday’s NFL Pro Bowl. In the exhibition that included downpours, sloppy turnovers and rivals-turned-teammates having fun, linebacker Thomas Davis, guard Trai Turner and kicker Graham Gano proudly wore the familiar silver and black helmets over their new blue NFC jerseys. Although selected, linebacker Luke Kuechly did not participate in this year’s Pro Bowl due to injury.
While Turner continued to be a force in the trenches Sunday, Gano netted three successful field goals (including a long of 43) and two extra points for the NFC in the 24-23 contest while Thomas Davis finished the game with four solo tackles, including one for a loss. Gano also won the first ever “Kick-Tac-Toe” skills competition between the NFL’s best kickers by masterfully kicking field goals through a Tic-Tac-Toe board’s nine squares in addition to being the last player eliminated from the NFC squad in the Pro Bowl’s annual dodgeball tournament.
Oakland’s Derek Carr completed 11 of 15 passes for 115 yards and connected with Tennessee’s Delanie Walker in the end zone for the winning score for the AFC who battled back from a 17 point deficit at halftime. Walker would go on to win Offensive MVP for his two-TD performance while Denver’s Von Miller, who provided problems all day for the NFC quarterbacks, sealed the game and the Defensive MVP award with one of his infamous strip-sacks.
Thomas Davis, who has been voted to three consecutive Pro Bowls, announced earlier this month that the 2018 season would be his last; Trai Turner was locked up last offseason to a four-year, $45 million contract. Graham Gano, who led the NFL in both field goal percentage and kickoff touchbacks, is currently an unrestricted free agent.
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