Vikings players, rest of NFC fall short in 2020 Pro Bowl

It was close in the end, but the NFC, which featured a handful of Minnesota Vikings players, wasn’t able to get a win over the AFC in Sunday’s Pro Bowl.

Even with eight members of the Minnesota Vikings roster competing for them, the NFC was unable to defeat the AFC in the 2020 Pro Bowl on Sunday.

The NFL’s annual all-star game was close for the majority of the matchup. But a blunder by Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter was what ultimately led to the AFC getting the victory on Sunday.

With the NFC only trailing by four points in the matchup’s final period, Cousins took the snap on a 4th and Goal and then had the ball knocked out of his hands by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt then scooped up the football and proceed to take it 82 yards the other way for an AFC touchdown.

Cousins was able to lead the NFC to a trip into the end zone on the very next drive and it cut their deficit to five points after a failed two-point attempt. The touchdown was just too little too late, however, as the AFC was able to hold on for the 38-33 win.

The Minnesota quarterback played the entire second half for the NFC on Sunday and he ended up throwing for 181 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

In addition to Cousins, there were seven other Vikings players participating in this season’s Pro Bowl. Dalvin Cook and C.J. Ham joined their quarterback on the offensive side of the ball while the NFC defense featured Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter, Everson Griffen, Eric Kendricks, Xavier Rhodes, and Harrison Smith.

Cook didn’t make a ton of plays during his first-career Pro Bowl appearance. However, the Vikings running back still ended up leading the NFC in rushing on Sunday with 17 yards on three carries.

On the defensive side of the ball, Minnesota’s players combined for a total of 15 tackles with Kendricks’ six tackles leading the way.

Smith had one of the most impressive plays of the afternoon as he snagged an interception early in the third quarter. After picking off the pass, he lateraled the ball to Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox who then took it 61-yards to the house for an NFC touchdown.

Even though their efforts weren’t enough to result in a win, it was still enjoyable to see some of Minnesota’s top players throw on their purple helmets one last time this season. And for some of them, Sunday might have even been their last appearance ever in purple.