Shedeur Sanders' rookie campaign was anything but smooth, and the Pro Bowl Games didn’t offer much of a reprieve. After a tough first NFL season that saw him throw ten interceptions to just seven touchdowns and finish with the league’s lowest passer rating among qualified quarterbacks (68.1), Sanders had a chance to reset the narrative on a lighter stage. But even in the flag football format of the Pro Bowl, the struggles resurfaced.
In the 7-on-7 main event, Sanders looked tentative at times. One of his more glaring miscues came when he was picked off by Bears safety Kevin Byard-a play that drew pointed criticism from analyst Tony Grossi. It was a moment that echoed some of the same decision-making issues that plagued Sanders during the regular season: forcing throws into tight windows, late reads, and an overall inconsistency under pressure.
Still, it wasn’t all bad. Sanders did manage to show flashes of what made him a high-profile prospect coming out of college.
He connected for two touchdowns in the first half-one to Texans wideout Nico Collins and another to Broncos offensive lineman Garrett Bolles, who lined up eligible in a bit of Pro Bowl creativity. Those moments helped the AFC take a 44-34 lead into halftime, offering a glimpse of the arm talent and improvisational flair that he’s known for.
But the second half told a different story. Sanders threw another interception in the third quarter, this time to Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright. The turnover halted the AFC’s momentum and gave the NFC a chance to claw back.
And claw back they did.
The NFC took over in the fourth quarter, flipping the game with a dominant final stretch. The turning point came when Joe Burrow, who had taken over under center for the AFC, was intercepted by Antoine Winfield Jr. That pick set up a picture-perfect touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to CeeDee Lamb, sealing a 66-52 NFC victory.
For Sanders, the Pro Bowl was a microcosm of his rookie year-some flashes of potential, but still plenty of growing pains. The tools are there, but turning them into consistent production at the NFL level remains the challenge.
The good news? It’s February.
There’s time. But if the Pro Bowl was any indication, the road ahead is going to require more than just raw talent.