The Vikings, coming off a 14-3 season, sent seven players to the Pro Bowl this year. After a strong start on Thursday in the skills competition, Minnesota and the rest of the NFC dominated the majority of the flag football game to take home a 76-63 win. There was also opportunities to earn extra points in a football race, tug-of-war and a Madden face-off.

Byron Murphy’s MVP day

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr. was named the defensive MVP of Sunday’s event. In his first Pro Bowl, the former second-round pick had a pick-six and five “tackles” to lead the NFC to the win.

The interception came on the first play of the fourth quarter, as Murphy jumped the pass thrown by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and took it eight yards to the house. Byron Murphy then jumped into the foam pit used for the tug-of-war competition, where he was joined by NFC teammates and mascots. One of the first ones to jump in after him was fellow MN Vikings Pro Bowler Jonathan Greenard.

#ProBowlGames PICK 6‼️@byronmurphy

📺: @ESPN | @ABC pic.twitter.com/ggwI0TmrDK

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) February 2, 2025

Murphy’s day helped the NFC claim a 56-50 victory in the flag football matchup. The 27-year-old signed with the Vikings back in 2023 and is set to be a free agent this offseason. Minnesota has made it a mission to resign him, but he will likely command more than the $17.5 million they gave him two years ago.

Related: Jefferson Flops, Darnold Shines Repping Vikings During NFL Skills Competition

The raise would be warranted. Murphy picked off a career-high six passes this season, tying for third in the NFL. He’s been a starter for 31 games over the past two seasons, so he will be a hot commodity for teams that need help in the secondary.

Minnesota Vikings’ Darnold and Jefferson connect

Earlier in the game, two other Minnesota Vikings got their names on the scoreboard. Nursing a 33-22 lead late in the second quarter, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold connected with top receiver Justin Jefferson for a 21-yard strike. A couple plays later, Darnold found Jefferson again for a two-yard touchdown, and the griddying ensued.

Viking to Viking TD and Griddy 😤

📺: #ProBowlGames on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/ODcwi2y4Wq

— NFL (@NFL) February 2, 2025

Jefferson finished the day with six catches for 46 yards and the touchdown. Darnold was 9-of-13 passing for 72 yards, but was picked off by the Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey midway through the second quarter.

Minnesota Vikings long snapper Andrew DePaola and offensive tackle Brian O’Neill didn’t have roles in the flag football game, but both still assisted their conference in victory. DePaola helped the NFC win “The Great Football Race” by knocking down giant bowling pins, while O’Neill was the anchor in a quick tug-of-war win.

Related: MN Vikings are “Really Happy with JJ McCarthy” According to New Report

When the dust settled, the NFC won the weekend’s festivities 76-63. Lions quarterback Jared Goff took home offensive MVP honors, and head coach Eli Manning bested his brother for the third straight year.

But first, they had to get passed Seattle, on the road. After the Vikings jumped out to an early 17-7 lead, the Seahawks charged back, and the contest was very back-and-forth, in the second half. But a late touchdown drive by Geno Smith & Co, put Seattle up 24-20, with under 5 minutes remaining.

Minnesota Vikings beat Seahawks on another Sam Darnold comeback

Thus, Sam Darnold was forced to orchestrate another last minute comeback, something he has already done multiple times this season. So, the former No. 3 overall pick took the football and led Minnesota on a 4-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that ended in this beautiful Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson TD, and a 27-24 lead for the Minnesota Vikings.

Darnold making this throw, reading a need to step up in the pocket, knowing he was about to get leveled, is unreal. pic.twitter.com/24v7m6asZC

— Ted (@tlschwerz) December 23, 2024

But earlier in that same drive, Sam Darnold dropped back on 2nd and 10, where he was sacked by Seattle defensive lineman Byron Murphy, which should have lined up a 3rd and 18, from inside Minnesota’s own 25-yard-line.

Related: What We Learned About the Vikings in Nerve-Racking Win vs Seahawks

Instead, the Vikings were awarded a first down on the 39-yard-line, after a 15 yard penalty, after the Seahawks rookie was called for a facemask penalty on Darnold. On the replay, you can see Murphy grab the facemask with his left hand, then use it to help pull Sam down to the ground.

Here's Seahawks DL Byron Murphy "just scraping" Sam Darnold's facemask yesterday… 😂🤥 pic.twitter.com/c6vd8bYzaq

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 23, 2024

After the game, Byron Murphy met with reporters, where he caused a bit of a stir, regarding the penalty that was called against him on that 2nd and 10 play. He told gathered media members inside the locker room that he only “scraped” Sam Darnold’s facemask, and never actually grabbed it.

Byron Murphy denies grabbing Darnold’s facemask

Maybe Murphy had not yet seen a replay. Maybe he was having an out of body experience. Most likely, he is being thick-headed, not wanting to admit a mistake that badly hurt his football team, and may have even cost a win against the Minnesota Vikings.

Ticked rookie DT Byron Murphy says of the facemask penalty he got while sacking Sam Darnold on 3rd down the play before Minnesota’s game-winning TD pass to Jefferson: “Bull-shit call.”

Said he didn’t grasp the QB’s face mask, just grazed it with his hand, arm @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/tSlCHFFUli

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) December 23, 2024

“I just feel like it was some BS. I never grabbed it. I just scraped his facemask and they ended up calling it. I just feel like it was a bullshit call. It is what it is.”

Byron Murphy on his facemask penalty (The News Tribune on X)

Earlier this season, the Minnesota Vikings took a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. That game included a late no-call facemask penalty on Sam Darnold that would have kept the purple’s final drive alive. Maybe those refs agreed with Murphy’s definition of a facemask penalty… because this one was nearly as egregious. Thankfully, the referees on Sunday afternoon brought their glasses and flags to work.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Open as Slim Home Favorites vs Hated Rival

On the season Murphy has 34 tackles and a half-sack. He has a pair of tackles for loss and a quarterback hit as well. The 16th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft from Texas has had a solid rookie year. That doesn’t mean he isn’t certifiably crazy for trying to defend himself, here.