Latest news with #SkillsShowdown
CBS News
31-01-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Patriots' Drake Maye struggled to pass the test at NFL Pro Bowl Skills Showdown
BOSTON -- New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye participated in his first-ever Pro Bowl event on Thursday night, but did not fair well in the "Passing the Test" challenge in the Skills Showdown. Maye finished with the lowest point total among the six quarterbacks in the event, walking away with just 22 points -- well behind the winning total of 44 points by Detroit's Jared Goff. Minnesota's Sam Darnold racked up 39 points, while Pittsburgh's Russell Wilson finished with 31. Cincinnati's Joe Burrow and Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield both tallied 27 points. In the event, the quarterbacks started with 40 seconds to hit targets worth between one and five points, depending on their size and where they were on the field. Hitting all nine targets reset the board for the QBs to start again. Maye followed Goff, so he had an uphill battle from the jump. He had 80 seconds to take aim at his targets thanks to former Patriots tight end and Jonnu Smith, who answered four trivia questions correctly to give Maye an addition 40 seconds. The 22-year-old Maye hit three straight targets and four on his first five throws, but then let out a "Golly!" when he missed on five straight tosses. He hit a moving three-point target after his cold streak, but Maye struggled to hit the final four-point target. He then came up short in a desperation bid to hit the moving five-point target as time expired. You can watch Maye take aim during the "Passing the Test" event here: While Maye struggled, he still was still complimented by Peyton Manning throughout the event. "He just throws it so effortlessly," Manning said of Maye. Drake Maye at the Pro Bowl Maye earned his Pro Bowl nod as a replacement player, taking the AFC roster spot left vacant when Baltimore's Lamar Jackson backed out of the festivities. Maye is the only Patriots player at the Pro Bowl, after special teamer Brenden Schooler opted out because of offseason surgery. "Passing the Test" was the only event that Maye participated in during Thursday night's Skills Showdown. He should see some action Sunday afternoon in the flag football game between the AFC and NFC.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Russell Wilson cooked at the 2025 Pro Bowl 2025 Skills Showdown
With Russell Wilson getting the 2025 Pro Bowl nod when he was asked to replace Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, who was nursing a wrist injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller made the most of his opportunity in the Skills Showdown on Thursday. More specifically, Wilson looked great during the Passing the Test game—a precision-focused challenge with a twist—additional bonus time could be added if the quarterback's partner could correctly answer five trivia-styled questions. Wilson was tasked with surpassing Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff's impressive score of 44 points and looked like he was on the right track as he scored 22 points with :43 seconds remaining. However, Wilson struggled to hit the last '5' target, ultimately trimming off 37 seconds until he was able to reset the targets. Russell Wilson's Pro Bowl showing. Had trouble clearing that '5' but not bad overall. #Steelers — Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) January 31, 2025 Wilson still has the opportunity to impress when he participates in the Flag Football game during the 2025 Pro Bowl Championship on Sunday, February 2, at 3:00 PM EST.
USA Today
30-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
7 Steelers to watch at 2025 Pro Bowl Games Skills Showdown
The 2025 Pro Bowl Games Skills Showdown has finally arrived. The Pittsburgh Steelers have excellent representation in the event, boasting seven players for the Black and Gold faithful to cheer for. With that in mind, here are the seven Pittsburgh Steelers that fans should keep an eye on throughout the Skills Showdown.
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Drake Maye's rookie NFL season to continue the weekend before Super Bowl
When the New England Patriots selected former UNC football star Drake Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, they hoped to finally secure their first franchise quarterback since moving on from Tom Brady. While Maye initially began his rookie season on the bench, it only took New England six weeks to name Maye their starter. Given a young roster with a struggling offensive line, Maye played fairly well in his first pro season: 2,276 passing yards, 15 passing touchdown to 10 interceptions, 421 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. The Patriots finished 4-13, last in the AFC East for the second-straight year, but Maye was definitely a rare bright spot for his team. It turns out, Maye isn't done playing football quite yet this season On Tuesday, January 28, Maye was named as an AFC Pro Bowl Games replacement. Maye and former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, the latter of whom is now the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback, were tabbed as replacements for Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Maye's nod also makes him New England's first Pro Bowl quarterback since 2021, when now Jacksonville Jaguars backup Mac Jones was a rookie. The star-studded Pro Bowl Games replacement list goes on, but Maye joins a group that includes Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, a former Georgia Bulldog and Seattle Seawhawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a former Ohio State Buckeye. With the Patriots earning yet another high NFL Draft selection in April's 2025 draft, additional help should be on the way for Maye. He has a talented, young wide receiver corps that includes fellow 2024 draftee Ja'Lynn Polk, but no one who's proven to take over as a WR1. If you want to watch Maye in the Skills Showdown, you can do so on Thursday, January 30 from 7-8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. If you want to watch Maye in the actual Pro Bowl Championship, which is a Flag Football format, that'll be on Sunday, February 2 from 3-6 p.m. Will Maye, the 2022 ACC Player of the Year who threw for 8,018 yards and 63 touchdowns during his Tar Heels career, earn more accolades as his NFL career progresses? Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinion
