2015 Pro Bowl Preview

On January 25 NFL fans will get to see the best players in the league square off in the 2015 Pro Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.

The game features a new tradition in how the teams are built in which NFL Hall of Fame players pick from the pool of those who were selected to the Pro Bowl. This tradition started last year with Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice coaching the two teams.

This year, the coaches are Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Cris Carter. Each coach selected two captains (one offensive and one defensive) to head their teams. Irvin selected Dallas Cowboys running back Demarco Murray and Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden, while Carter chose Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and Texans defensive end/tight end J.J. Watt as his captains.

More from Heat Waved

• Arizona Coyotes: Slumping Strome Shipped to Chicago
• Arizona Cardinals Paid Sam Bradford $6.75 Million Per TD Pass
• Former Arizona Basketball Star Allonzo Trier Remarkably Efficient Lately
• Arizona Coyotes: How Coach Rick Tocchet Sparked His Offense
• Arizona State Basketball Has Two Transfers Ready to Compete

The teams seem fairly even with both teams consisting of studs all around the field. Carter chose Colts quarterback Andrew Luck with his first pick and Irvin went and got himself Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo to start off his “Cowboy team” as receiver Odell Beckham Jr. called them. Beckham Jr., who will likely be named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year next week, was picked by Irvin a few rounds after Romo.

Both teams look stout on defense as well with Carter having Watt, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston, Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams and other all stars on his team. Irvin drafted some high quality defensive players as well, including Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews and St. Louis Rams defensive end Robert Quinn.

Carter’s team does carry the four Cardinals players: cornerback Patrick Peterson, cornerback Antonio Cromartie, defensive end Calais Campbell and safety Justin Berthel.

I am predicting Team Carter to win this game. Not only does he have the best defensive player in the league (Watt), he also has arguably the best quarterback in the league (Luck). Irvin’s team will fight and give them all they can handle, but Carter has more talent on his team.

The two teams will be out there to have a lot of fun and just goofing off. Not saying they won’t care if they win or lose this game because they are still players and will fight for a victory but they will be a bit less stressed out than a typical game.