On Tuesday night, the AFC and NFC did battle in the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, with the NFC stopping the AFC 62-56 in a flag football game that featured some of the NFL’s best players. When it was all said and done, the NFC team celebrated two of its stars earning offensive and defensive player of the game honors.
Pro Bowl Games Awards MVP Awards to Top Players
Once the NFC finished stopping its opponent, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. were named the game’s MVPs.
After the Pro Bowl Games’ flag football contest finished, Pickens took some time to chat with ESPN on “SportsCenter” with anchors Michael Eaves and Nicole Briscoe. When Pickens was asked if he got his own MVP award, he was wondering the same thing.
“That’s one thing I was wondering, this is my first time go-round with this, but I definitely would like to take a trophy home myself,” Pickens said. Players passed the championship trophy around, meaning all NFC players had a turn with it.
Pickens was asked by Briscoe what was the most outstanding part of his participation in the Pro Bowl Games. “I’d definitely say my teammates,” Pickens said.
He added, “You know, when you first come to the Pro Bowl, you’re not expecting most of your teammates from your actual team to be here. So, for me, that’s what it is personally. And, of course, the other guys are pretty neat.”
At the end of chatting with Eaves and Briscoe, the ESPN anchors encouraged Pickens to turn around and just take that Pro Bowl Games trophy home with him. Pickens simply followed their suggestion, climbing up the stairs, grabbing the championship trophy, and walking away with it.
But Pickens might have had to return it to NFL officials later in the night. He did tell Eaves and Briscoe, though, that he’s planning to remain in the San Francisco Bay area for Super Bowl 60 between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.
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According to the PFSN NFL WR Impact metrics, measured through the regular season, Pickens finished with an impact score of 88.4 and graded out at B+. He finished the season with 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdown receptions.
As for Winfield and the Buccaneers’ defense, according to the PFSN NFL Defense Impact metrics, Tampa Bay finished with an impact score of 72.8 and graded out to a C-.
