There’s a ball at the Pro Bowl for the Broncos.

Our Denver Broncos Pro Bowl players had a winning time even though the AFC didn’t win.

You watch the Pro Bowl for enjoyment and to honor some of your favorite players in the final week leading up to the Super Bowl, not with the hope of your conference winning desperately.

Naturally, I say it in light of the AFC’s defeat.

Putting pride aside, I had a great time. After competing in the Thursday Skills Showdown, the Pro Bowl trio—wide receiver Marvin Mims, Jr., cornerback Patrick Surtain II, and safety Justin Simmons of the Denver Broncos—took the field for flag football on Sunday, where PS2 scored a stunning pick-sick on one of Geno Smith’s throws.

The sight of Marshall, Peyton Manning’s small kid, telling his uncle that the NFC “won the game” due to the referees’ call was equally endearing and humorous. Peyton’s entertainment firm, Omaha Productions, tweeted about the occasion.
It’s difficult not to feel warm and fuzzy when watching the Mannings; perhaps I’m the only one.

Speaking of Peyton, he clearly spent some time talking about being ready for Denver’s impending arrival with our Pro Bowl trio: safety Justin Simmons, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, and receiver Marvin Mims, Jr.

“Sean Payton’s experience and the things he provides thrill me much. Evidently, it’s a very competitive division, Manning remarked, citing the Chiefs’ dominance in the AFC West and the hiring of new coaches by the Raiders and Chargers. Thus, we must go retrieve it. Nobody is contacting us again. Sean is aware of this, and he will concentrate on it throughout the offseason.
He declared, “I’m excited for the Broncos’ future.”

I can see across the fanbase that the rest of us are excited about the future, too, even if cautiously so. We have a roster that’s shaping up to be a solid one, with a well-tenured Super Bowl-winning coach at the helm.

Taking all of this into consideration while watching this year’s Pro Bowl Games actually reminded me of the hope that next year, we could be preparing for a high-stakes postseason game instead of just the player showcase game. In the meantime, we enjoy the fun we’re having right now (I know our Pro Bowlers did — you should see their pictures from Walt Disney World!), and we wait to watch next year unfold.

Congratulations to Justin Simmons, Pat Surtain, and Marvin Mims for their 2024 Pro Bowl appearances! The honor was a well-deserved one for all three, and I have no doubt that there are more to come for each of them.