Von Miller seems to make his biggest plays in January and February — even when the game is an exhibition.
Miller forced and recovered a fumble in the final minute of Sunday’s Pro Bowl to help seal a 24-23 victory for the AFC.
Trailing most of the game, the AFC took a one-point lead on a Chris Boswell extra point that followed a Derek Carr to Delanie Walker touchdown pass. Rams quarterback Jared Goff had 1:31 to get the NFC into field goal range for a chance at the win, but Miller wasn’t having it.
Miller beat his blocker on the fourth play of the final drive and forced a strip sack of Goff, which Miller recovered himself.
Strip-sack @VonMiller for the #ProBowl win! https://t.co/tHWfZQSxdU
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 28, 2018
The play sealed a solid day for the seventh-year linebacker out of Texas A&M, who had three tackles, one pass defended and two quarterback hits to go along with his forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Miller nearly had another strip sack in the first half, but the play was ruled an incompletion by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
.@VonMiller doing @VonMiller things at the #ProBowl. https://t.co/NVKgk07UPw
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 28, 2018
The performance earned him the game’s defensive MVP honors.
2018 #ProBowl MVPs: @delaniewalker82 & @VonMiller! pic.twitter.com/76daI1O3P3
— NFL (@NFL) January 28, 2018
Miller’s game was reminiscent of his play in the 2015 AFC Championship and Super Bowl 50, when he logged five total sacks (2.5 per game), an interception of New England’s Tom Brady and two strip sacks of Carolina’s Cam Newton. Miller was named Super Bowl 50 MVP.
While Miller certainly would rather be preparing for a Super Bowl this week instead of playing an exhibition game, that didn’t stop him from putting together a solid game against many of the game’s best.