NFL Pro Bowl: Experimental rules results

In recent years, the National Football League has used the NFL Pro Bowl to experiment with different rules that may be added to the game in the future. Which experimental rules worked this year?

When Team Irvin walked off the field with a 32-28 victory over Team Carter in another exciting and totally desired installment of the NFL Pro Bowl, a lot of fans were left wondering: what kind of football was that? It was not just because of the “defense” that was being played or the middle school-level tacking that was taking place, either.

The NFL installed a number of experimental rules into the Pro Bowl that may be installed in future regular season games if the new rules improve the quality of play. The nine billion dollar industry that is the National Football League, it seems, is still looking to improve its established product.

The main focus of the experimental rules is on special teams, with rules specifically made to make things more difficult for place kickers and eliminate any opportunity to improve field position after scoring plays. Other rules experimented on the flow of the game and how it is played.

Here is look at the rules that were used in the Pro Bowl and their impact on the game.