Last night Team Irvin defeated Team Rice, 49-27, in one of the more lopsided Pro Bowls in recent history. Quarterback Russell Wilson got Team Irvin off to a quick start, completing 8 of 12 passes for 164 yards and 3 touchdowns on his way to the MVP award. The key to Team Irvin’s victory was the height, speed and athleticism of wide receivers A.J. Green, Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins and Allen Robinson who combined for 9 catches, 262 yards and 4 touchdowns.

After going down 28-14 at the half, Team Rice played sloppy football including 6 interceptions by quarterbacks Eli Manning, Derek Carr and Tyrod Taylor. While the numerous alternate and first-time Pro Bowl players did elevate the level of play, it remains to be seen what the NFL will do to make the Pro Bowl watchable. Pitch and catch is only so exciting even for the fair weather fan. Perhaps letting pass rushing specialist linebackers actually do what they were voted to do would improve the game for fans.

Still, five Pro Bowlers played noticeably good games and deserve to be highlighted here:

Seattle Seahawk quarterback Russell Wilson playing for Team Irvin. As mentioned above, Wilson got Team Irvin off to a quick start thanks in part to his ability to escape pressure in the pocket, look downfield and fire rocket balls to open receivers. There’s a reason Wilson was the hottest quarterback not named Cam Newton down the stretch of the season and it showed in last night’s game. Kansas City Chief tight end Travis Kelce playing for Team Rice. Kelce was perhaps the best offensive player on Team Rice. His crisp route-running and sure hands enabled him to snag 5 passes for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns leading all Team Rice receivers in every category. Kelce demonstrated why the Chiefs were smart to sign him to a 5 year/$46 million extension through 2021. Seattle Seahawk defensive end Michael Bennett playing for Team Irvin. Despite being known as the guy who constantly jumps offside on the hard count, Michael Bennett put together a great 2015 campaign including a season-high 10 sacks for the Seahawks. Bennett is one of the most disruptive and intelligent defensive linemen currently playing and demonstrated both by recording the game’s only sack and deflecting a pass that was intercepted by Team Irvin teammate Jurrell Casey. Seattle Seahawk linebacker Bobby Wagner playing for Team Rice. Wagner may be the best cover linebacker in football today. He ran sideline to sideline racking up a game-high 10 tackles including running down his Seahawks’ teammate Richard Sherman on a poorly executed wide receiver reverse for negative 22 yards. While Wagner’s play didn’t jump off the screen to viewers, he was perhaps the best defensive player on the field last night. New York Giant cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie playing for Team Irvin. Who cares that DRC was a Pro Bowl alternate. The man came to play and he showed up big time racking up 3 tackles and 2 interceptions. Although he lost his first pick after Jarvis Landry punched the ball out, DRC and other alternate players like him elevated the level of competition for most of the game until it was clear that Team Rice had no chance of a comeback.