The greatest moments in Pro Bowl history

Like everything else in our world, this year’s NFL Pro Bowl will look and feel significantly different. It will be in a virtual environment, with a variety of different activities involving the Madden NFL 21 video game being streamed online.

Many football fans have a love-hate relationship with the Pro Bowl. On one hand, it’s cool to get the best players from the American Football Conference and National Football Conference playing against one another. On the other, defense is often seen as more of an abstract concept than anything else, with nobody wanting to get hurt ahead of the offseason.

However, there have been a number of outstanding performances put forth in pro football’s all-star game over the years. Ahead of a Pro Bowl like none other, we’ve ranked the top five most memorable performances.

5. Steve Tasker (1993)

I have a soft spot for those who put forth effort to do the dirty work in the Pro Bowl, and in that regard, Tasker put forth an all-time performance. Renowned as one of the best special teams players of all time, the Buffalo Bill forced a fumble and blocked a field goal as the AFC prevailed over the NFC in overtime.

4. Joe Theismann (1984)

People remember Theismann’s playing days more so for how they ended than anything else (don’t search if you have a sensitive stomach). However, he was a top-flight quarterback in the early-1980’s, and nowhere was that more evident than in the 1984 Pro Bowl.

Theismann threw three touchdown passes in a game the NFC was never in danger of losing. Theismann’s squad wound up winning 45-3, which remains the biggest margin of victory in the game’s history.

3. Randy Moss (2000)

When Randy Moss was on his game, he hit a gear few wide receivers in NFL history could match. That was the case during the 2000 Pro Bowl, when the Minnesota Viking wideout set a new record with 212 receiving yards on nine catches. He added a touchdown in the NFC’s 51-31 victory, and he earned the Pro Bowl MVP award for his efforts.

2. Marshall Faulk (1995)

An all-time great, Faulk made the Pro Bowl after a spectacular rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts, and he didn’t treat the trip to Hawaii as a vacation. He wound up setting a new Pro Bowl rushing record with 180 yards on just 13 carries. That performance earned him Pro Bowl MVP honors, and he’d win plenty more trophies during his Hall of Fame career with the Colts and the St. Louis Rams.

1. Marc Bulger (2004)

Bulger had a tough task in St. Louis, where he was asked to fill the shoes of eventual Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. However, he had several top-notch seasons, one of which ended with a tremendous comeback in the Pro Bowl.

The NFC was down 25 points when Bulger led the offense on several scoring drives. He wound up throwing four touchdown passes to four different receivers, and the NFC rallied to shock the AFC, 55-52.