Former LSU receivers shine with 8 touchdowns as the NFC defeats the AFC 76-63 in the Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas

With three years until flag football makes its Olympic debut, one thing is becoming clear: the U.S. team will need a former LSU receiver.

In the Pro Bowl Games, four former LSU players scored a total of eight touchdowns in the flag football game, helping the NFC to a 76-63 win over the AFC on Sunday.

Rookie Malik Nabers of the New York Giants scored two touchdowns for the NFC, and Justin Jefferson of Minnesota added another. Jefferson caught six passes for 46 yards, while Nabers had five receptions for 62 yards.

“We’re on top for sure,” Jefferson said. “It is definitely great to see the guys having fun out here, scoring touchdowns, just making big plays. That’s what we normally do, so it’s good to see us coming out here and doing the same thing.”

The NFC’s victory was pretty much secured when they returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the second half. Budda Baker of Arizona and Byron Murphy of Minnesota were the ones who made those big defensive plays in the high-scoring, offense-focused event.

Jared Goff got the NFC off to a strong start, completing 10 of 11 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Goff and Murphy earned MVP honors for their performances.

Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes for the NFC, with Nabers catching one of them.

Former LSU players continued to dominate the game. For the AFC, Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase scored three touchdowns, including a 45-yard catch from Russell Wilson late in the game. Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr. added two more touchdowns.

After scoring his third touchdown, Chase celebrated with a backflip and then did “the Griddy,” a dance popularized by his former LSU teammate, Jefferson.

The NFC started the day with a 14-7 lead after winning six skills competitions on Thursday night. They added to their lead by winning the “Great Football Race” and also won a tug-of-war event on Sunday.

The AFC struggled in the tug-of-war, with players like Dexter Lawrence of the New York Jets, Tampa Bay’s Vita Vea, and Seattle’s Leonard Williams unable to keep their team from being pulled into a foam pit twice during the best-of-three contest.

Dallas Cowboys return man KaVontae Turpin impressed with his speed, and Eli Manning used him as a pass rusher. Turpin was a constant threat, pressuring quarterbacks and making five tackles, including a sack.

The game had a relaxed atmosphere, with players finding ways to pass the time. Pittsburgh’s Cameron Heyward and Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons played cards on the AFC bench between quarters.

Mayfield, Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs, and Dallas’ Micah Parsons took pictures holding their babies on the NFC sideline, while Cleveland’s Jerry Jeudy spent much of the game signing autographs on the AFC side.

The most exciting finish of the day came in the “Punt Perfect” competition. Jacksonville’s Logan Cooke and Detroit’s Jack Fox went head-to-head in double overtime. After two rounds, the competition was tied, but Cooke won after Fox’s final punt hit the rim of one of the six targets from 35 yards away.

“At the end of the day, everyone came here for a punt-off,” Cooke joked.