1993: AFC Wins First Overtime Pro Bowl

The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on February 7, 1993 was played before 50,007 fans at Aloha Stadium on a sunny day with intermittent clouds. It marked the 14^th consecutive year that the game was played in Honolulu. Coaches were Don Shula of the Dolphins for the AFC and San Francisco’s George Seifert for the NFC.

The NFC took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards in 14 plays. QB Steve Young of the 49ers scrambled for eight yards in a third-and-three situation and completed five passes, the longest to his San Francisco teammate, TE Brent Jones, for 17 yards. The advance finally stalled at the AFC 10 and Morten Andersen of the Saints kicked a 27-yard field goal.

The AFC punted following their first series but got the ball back four plays later when a Young pass was intercepted by Denver FS Steve Atwater at the AFC 29. Miami QB Dan Marino completed consecutive throws to WR Anthony Miller of the Chargers for 16 yards and Houston WR Haywood Jeffires for 11 to get the ball into NFC territory, but a holding penalty moved them back, and on third down Marino was sacked by Minnesota DE Chris Doleman for a 15-yard loss, resulting in a punt.

The AFC managed to get on the scoreboard when, on the first play of the second quarter, LB Junior Seau of the Chargers intercepted a Young pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. Kansas City’s Nick Lowery added the extra point to give the AFC a 7-3 lead. The NFC responded with a 10-play, 58-yard possession. An illegal blitz (an infraction specific to the Pro Bowl) on the AFC converted a third down and Dallas RB Emmitt Smith broke away for a 23-yard gain to the AFC 34. The NFC converted another third down before the drive came to an end at the AFC 20 and Andersen kicked a 37-yard field goal to narrow the score to 7-6.

QB Troy Aikman of the champion Cowboys (pictured at right) was behind center for the next NFC series and came out throwing, hitting on three straight passes to pick up 25 yards, two of them to his Dallas teammate, WR Michael Irvin. The nine-play drive covered 54 yards and ended with Aikman passing to Irvin once more for a nine-yard TD. Andersen converted and the NFC took a 13-7 lead.

The AFC went three-and-out and punted, and with 56 seconds remaining in the first half, Aikman again went to the air, connecting with Atlanta WR Andre Rison for 18 yards, RB Barry Sanders of the Lions for 19, and Rison again for 11 yards. But Aikman’s next two passes fell incomplete, with a Sanders run for no gain in between, and Andersen’s field goal try was blocked by DE Leslie O’Neal of the Chargers and returned by Miami LB Bryan Cox to the NFC 35.

Houston QB Warren Moon completed a pass to Jeffires and it appeared that time had run out in the half before the receiver got out of bounds. Players began to head to the locker room and technicians started to pull sets for the halftime show onto the field. But the officials ruled that there were still two seconds remaining and the field was cleared. On the final play of the half, Lowery booted a 42-yard field goal and the NFC margin was narrowed to 13-10 at halftime.

The AFC started the third quarter off with a short series and punted. On the NFC’s third play, Aikman threw to Dallas TE Jay Novacek for 26 yards, but after Sanders ran twice to gain another 14 yards, Aikman’s next pass was picked off by SS Henry Jones of the Bills, who returned it 32 yards to the NFC 42. With Pittsburgh RB Barry Foster (pictured at top) running effectively and his teammate with the Steelers, QB Neil O’Donnell, completing a pass, the AFC reached the 11 before settling for a 29-yard Lowery field goal to tie the score at 13-13.

Atlanta CB Deion Sanders returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards and the NFC started with good field position near midfield. QB Brett Favre of the Packers was in the game and misfired on his first three passes before connecting with San Francisco WR Jerry Rice for 48 yards to the AFC two. RB Ricky Watters of the 49ers lost two yards on first down and, while Rice picked up three yards on a short toss from Favre, the AFC defense held as Favre was stuffed for no gain on a quarterback sneak and, on fourth down, Watters dove for the end zone and came up short.

The AFC had possession as the game headed into the fourth quarter. O’Donnell completed passes to Houston WR Ernest Givins for six yards and WR Andre Reed of the Bills for nine, but the AFC had to punt. RB Johnny Bailey of the Cardinals returned the kick but fumbled when hit by Buffalo WR Steve Tasker, the AFC’s special teams representative, and punter Rohn Stark of the Colts recovered at the AFC 39. However, on the next play O’Donnell’s pass was intercepted by Phoenix SS Tim McDonald.

The NFC punted for the first (and only) time following a short series and a 20-yard return by Indianapolis WR Clarence Verdin had another 15 yards tacked on for unnecessary roughness. Starting at the NFC 37, the AFC netted a yard in three plays and Lowery missed a 54-yard field goal attempt.

Favre threw to WR Fred Barnett of the Eagles for 16 yards on first down and the NFC maintained possession when an apparent interception was nullified by a pass interference penalty. Favre was sacked by DE Howie Long of the Raiders on third down and that set up another big play for the AFC on special teams. A field goal try by Andersen was blocked by Tasker and CB Terry McDaniel of the Raiders recovered and ran 28 yards for a touchdown. Lowery converted and the AFC was back in front by 20-13 with eight minutes left in regulation.

Young was back at quarterback for the NFC and he threw to Irvin for 19 yards and ran for eight. Sanders ran for six yards and it was Young to Irvin again for 12 to the AFC 35, but a holding penalty backed the NFC up and the next two passes were incomplete before Young was intercepted by Buffalo CB Nate Odomes.

The AFC punted following the next series and the NFC took over at its 22 with less than three minutes remaining on the clock. Young threw to Rice for 16 yards but was sacked by DE Neil Smith of the Chiefs for a loss of eight. Two plays later, he passed to Brent Jones for 16 yards and a first down and, after another sack, connected with Rison for 18. Throws to Novacek and Rison got the ball to the AFC 20, but the next two passes were incomplete and Young was sacked by Cox on third down. Facing fourth down and with time running out, a scrambling Young completed a throw to RB Rodney Hampton of the Giants at the goal line for a 23-yard touchdown with ten seconds remaining in regulation. Andersen tied the score at 20-20 with the point after and, with the score tied at 20-20 at the end of four quarters, the game went into overtime.

The NFC won the toss and had the first possession in overtime, but Young fumbled when caught from behind by Kansas City LB Derrick Thomas while scrambling and Long recovered for the AFC at the NFC 28. Foster ran the ball four times to reach the NFC 16 before Lowery came on to kick the game-winning 33-yard field goal at 4:09 into OT. The AFC won the first overtime Pro Bowl game by a final score of 23-20.

The NFC far outgained the AFC (472 yards to 114) and also had big margins in first downs (30 to 9) and offensive plays (90 to 50). However, the NFC turned the ball over six times, to one suffered by the AFC, and the AFC had both an interception and blocked field goal returned for touchdowns.

Dan Marino completed just three of nine passes for 31 yards and Neil O’Donnell had the most completed passes for the AFC, with four, out of seven attempts for 23 yards with one intercepted. Barry Foster rushed for 57 yards on 15 carries to lead the team by far (runner-up was RB Harold Green of the Bengals with nine yards on four attempts). Haywood Jeffires led the receivers with three catches for 26 yards and Anthony Miller contributed 23 yards on his two receptions. Steve Tasker (pictured below) was named the game’s MVP as he accounted for four tackles, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. Regularly recognized for his outstanding play on special teams, Tasker was appearing in his fourth of an eventual seven Pro Bowls.

For the NFC, Steve Young was successful on 18 of 32 throws for 196 yards and a TD, but gave up three interceptions and had the disastrous fumble in overtime. He also led the team in rushing with 34 yards on six carries. Troy Aikman was 10-of-15 for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception and Brett Favre, making his first Pro Bowl appearance, completed four of eight passes for 74 yards with no TDs or pickoffs. Andre Rison had 8 catches for 80 yards and Jerry Rice gained 78 yards on his four receptions while Michael Irvin scored a TD among his 5 catches for 59 yards.

The game marked the first time that the Pro Bowl went into overtime and reduced the NFC’s lead in the series to 13-10 since going to the AFC vs. NFC format following the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.

1986: Simms Rallies NFC to Pro Bowl Win

It was a calm, sunny day at Aloha Stadium with 50,101 fans in attendance for the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on February 2, 1986, marking the seventh straight year that the NFL’s annual all-star game was held in Honolulu. The coaches were John Robinson of the Rams for the NFC and Miami’s Don Shula for the AFC.

The NFC had first possession and advanced to the AFC 37 but came up empty when Morten Andersen of the Saints missed a 54-yard field goal attempt. The AFC drove 63 yards in 11 plays as San Diego QB Dan Fouts completed five passes, three of them to WR Steve Largent of the Seahawks. RB Marcus Allen of the Raiders ran for a two-yard touchdown and Pittsburgh’s Gary Anderson added the extra point.

The teams exchanged punts but the NFC was on the move as the opening period ended thanks to three pass completions by QB Phil Simms of the Giants (pictured above), two of them for 16 yards apiece to Tampa Bay TE Jimmie Giles and WR James Lofton of the Packers. However, facing fourth-and-two at the AFC 31 early in the second quarter, a carry by Atlanta RB Gerald Riggs came up short. But the NFC got a break three plays later when a Fouts pass was intercepted by safety Joey Browner of the Vikings, who returned it 48 yards for a TD. Morten Andersen’s conversion tied the score at 7-7.

The AFC responded with a 78-yard drive in eight plays. Allen ran effectively and Fouts completed another two throws to Largent (pictured below), and it was Allen taking a pitchout and tossing an option pass to San Diego WR Wes Chandler for a 51-yard touchdown. Gary Anderson added the point after and the AFC was back in the lead by 14-7.

QB Jim McMahon of the recently-crowned champion Bears was behind center for the next NFC series, but he was hindered by a knee injury suffered in the Super Bowl. McMahon was sacked for an eight-yard loss by DE Howie Long of the Raiders on first down and, two plays later, was picked off by Denver CB Louis Wright, who returned it 12 yards to the NFC 19. The AFC picked up another three points when Gary Anderson booted a 34-yard field goal four plays later for a 17-7 advantage.

Another short series for the NFC ended with McMahon fumbling when sacked by DE Mark Gastineau of the Jets on third down and Denver DE Rulon Jones recovered for the AFC at the NFC 10. On the next play, QB Ken O’Brien of the Jets connected with Pittsburgh WR Louis Lipps for a touchdown. Gary Anderson added the extra point and, with four minutes remaining in the first half, the AFC held a 24-7 lead, which remained the score at halftime.

The AFC started off the third quarter by advancing to midfield, but O’Brien fumbled when attempting to hand off and Dallas DT Randy White recovered for the NFC at the AFC 49. After a running play lost a yard, Simms, back behind center for the NFC due to McMahon’s injury, completed three consecutive passes, the longest to TE Doug Cosbie of the Cowboys for 23 yards. Simms finished off the six-play possession with a pass to Washington WR Art Monk for a 15-yard TD, Morten Andersen converted, and the AFC lead was narrowed to 24-14.

The teams traded punts before the AFC put together a promising drive. Allen again ran the ball well and Fouts completed three passes, two to Largent for 20 yards and one to Chandler for 23. But after reaching the NFC 18, a Fouts throw into the end zone was intercepted by CB Leroy Irvin of the Rams to snuff out the opportunity.

The clubs again exchanged punts and, as the game entered the fourth quarter, Irvin’s 32-yard punt return put the NFC at the AFC 32. Simms threw to Cosbie for 19 yards and San Francisco RB Roger Craig ran twice for 11 yards. It was Simms to Cosbie for a two-yard touchdown and, with Morten Andersen adding the extra point, the AFC lead was whittled down to three points at 24-21.

The AFC went primarily to the air on the next series and O’Brien connected on five straight passes and a roughing-the-passer penalty on LB Otis Wilson of the Bears put the ball on the NFC 13. But once again the NFC came through with an interception in the end zone as O’Brien’s next toss was picked off by Chicago LB Mike Singletary.

Starting from their 20, the NFC drove 80 yards in 10 plays. Simms converted a third-and-six situation with a completion to Lofton for 19 yards and, after a fumble resulted in a nine-yard loss, he threw to Monk for 17 yards on a third-and-16 play. RB Joe Morris of the Giants gained 11 yards on a fake reverse and, two plays after that, it was Simms to Monk for 17 yards to the AFC 15. From there, Simms connected with Giles for a touchdown and Morten Andersen’s kick made it a four-point game. The AFC had one last shot and it ended when a Fouts pass was intercepted by Irvin to nail down the 28-24 win for the NFC.   

The AFC had the edge in total yards (382 to 272) and first downs (24 to 18). However, they also turned the ball over five times, to two suffered by the NFC.

Phil Simms, who was named the game’s MVP, completed 15 of 27 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns while giving up no interceptions. The hobbled Jim McMahon was a lackluster one-of-six for seven yards and gave up an interception and fumble. Joe Morris led the NFC rushers with 34 yards on 8 attempts and Roger Craig, who also carried 8 times, was second with 25. Art Monk and Doug Cosbie caught four passes apiece, for 61 and 55 yards, respectively. On defense, LeRoy Irvin accounted for two interceptions and Joey Browner had one that was returned for a score.

For the AFC, Dan Fouts was successful on 16 of 27 throws for 173 yards, but none were for TDs and he was intercepted three times. Ken O’Brien was 8-of-15 for 87 yards and a touchdown with an interception as well. Marcus Allen rushed for 58 yards on 16 carries that included a TD and also threw a scoring pass. Steve Largent caught a then-Pro Bowl-record 8 passes, for 82 yards, and Wes Chandler gained 114 yards on his four pass receptions that included a touchdown. 

“When Jim (McMahon) got hurt, I knew I was going to play the rest of the game,” said Phil Simms. “I can’t say I was real thrilled about Jim getting hurt…but it turned out well.”

The game marked a return to the victory column for the NFC, which lost the previous year’s contest after having won two straight. The NFC held a 10-6 advantage since the AFC vs. NFC format had been adopted following the 1970 merger.

1976: Boryla Unlikely Star as NFC Rallies to Win Pro Bowl

There were 32,108 fans in attendance at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans for the Pro Bowl on January 26, 1976, a Monday night. The coaches were Chuck Knox of the Rams for the NFC and Oakland’s John Madden for the AFC. The league had to dig deep to find a second quarterback for the NFC behind Jim Hart of the Cardinals. Philadelphia’s Mike Boryla (pictured at right) made the roster because Minnesota QB Fran Tarkenton, who was originally selected, had to drop out due to a sore arm and QB Roger Staubach of the Cowboys, chosen in his place, was forced to skip the game due to injured ribs suffered during the preceding week’s Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh. Archie Manning of the Saints, Atlanta’s Steve Bartkowski, and James Harris of the Rams all backed out, leaving Boryla as the next available substitute. In his second season, he had been underwhelming, completing 87 of 166 passes (52.4 %) for 996 yards with twice as many interceptions (12) as TD passes (6) and started just five games in competition with the veteran Roman Gabriel.

The first quarter was scoreless as both teams missed field goals. Kansas City’s Jan Stenerud was wide to the right on a 46-yard try following the AFC’s first possession and Jim Bakken of the Cardinals was short on a 50-yard attempt that concluded a long series by the NFC in which his St. Louis teammate, Jim Hart, completed two 17-yard passes, to Minnesota WR John Gilliam and HB Terry Metcalf of the Cards.

The AFC had the ball in a series that extended into the second quarter. Pittsburgh FB Franco Harris ran effectively, with a long carry of 15 yards, and Cincinnati QB Ken Anderson threw to WR Lynn Swann of the Steelers for 11 yards to the NFC 11 on the final play of the opening period. However, a sack by LB Isiah Robertson of the Rams cost the AFC seven yards and a 35-yard field goal attempt had to be aborted when punter Ray Guy of the Raiders, the holder, couldn’t handle the snap.

The NFC punted following the next possession and WR Billy “White Shoes” Johnson of the Oilers, who initially bobbled the kick, returned it 55 yards to the NFC 33. On second down, HB Lydell Mitchell of the Colts reversed field and ran 20 yards to the 11 and, while the drive stalled at that point, Stenerud kicked a 20-yard field goal for the game’s first points.

Neither side was able to generate much offense until , with 1:31 remaining in the first half, the AFC took possession at its 45 following a punt and Houston QB Dan Pastorini threw to WR Cliff Branch of the Raiders for 32 yards on first down. After reaching the NFC 18, Stenerud kicked another field goal from 35 yards to put the AFC up by 6-0.

There was still time for the NFC and, following a short carry by FB Chuck Foreman of the Vikings on first down, Hart passed to Detroit TE Charlie Sanders for 28 yards to the AFC 43. However, Hart’s next throw was intercepted by Pittsburgh LB Jack Lambert, and on the next play Pastorini went long for his Houston teammate, WR Ken Burrough, for a 64-yard touchdown. Stenerud added the extra point and the AFC took a 13-0 lead into halftime.

The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter, with Guy booting one that hit the replay screen that hung 90 feet above the playing field – the first player to ever do so in the Superdome. The play having been ruled dead as a result, Guy’s re-kick traveled 50 yards and the NFC proceeded to drive 62 yards in nine plays. Metcalf ran for 14 yards on first down and he and Foreman got the ball to the AFC 29 before Hart completed a short toss to Gilliam. The advance was blunted at that point and Bakken came on to score the first points for the NFC with a 42-yard field goal.

The AFC drove into NFC territory on a possession that featured Anderson running for nine yards and then tossing a lateral to Buffalo HB O.J. Simpson for another 13. But the AFC was forced to punt and the NFC responded with an 80-yard advance in 11 plays. Foreman broke away for a 26-yard gain and on a third-and-four play he caught a pass from Hart for 10 yards to the AFC 35. Three plays later Hart converted another third down with an eight-yard completion to Philadelphia TE Charle Young. Foreman lost a yard on the next play but Metcalf ran for 19 yards to set up a Hart pass to Foreman in the end zone for a four-yard TD. Bakken’s try for the extra point was blocked by DT Joe Greene of the Steelers, but the AFC lead was narrowed to 13-9.

As the game entered the fourth quarter, the AFC advanced to the NFC 31, but came up empty when Stenerud missed a 48-yard field goal attempt. But a short NFC series ended in a punt that Johnson gathered in at his ten yard line and returned 90 yards for a touchdown, setting a Pro Bowl record. Stenerud converted and the AFC had a seemingly comfortable 20-9 advantage.

On the NFC’s next play from scrimmage, HB Lawrence McCutcheon of the Rams broke away for a 41-yard gain (also a new Pro Bowl high) and, while he fumbled at the end, Los Angeles WR Harold Jackson recovered to maintain possession at the AFC 28. Runs by St. Louis FB Jim Otis and McCutcheon moved the ball to the AFC 13, but Hart threw two incomplete passes and Bakken’s 31-yard field goal attempt missed to the left.

The AFC punted after its next series and, with 5:39 remaining to play and the ball at the NFC 36, Mike Boryla came in at quarterback. After a running play and an offside penalty, Boryla connected with WR Mel Gray of the Cardinals for 25 yards. An incompletion and a three-yard McCutcheon run had the NFC facing third-and-seven, and another pass drew a 20-yard pass interference penalty on Pittsburgh CB Mel Blount. Two plays later, Boryla threw to Metcalf in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown and, with Bakken adding the point after, it was a four-point contest with the clock down to just over three minutes remaining.

The AFC went three-and-out on the ensuing possession and the NFC used razzle-dazzle to again move into scoring position. Returning the AFC punt, a lateral by Green Bay WR Steve Odom to CB Lem Barney of the Lions resulted in a 50-yard return to the AFC 30. Boryla overthrew Foreman on first down, but the AFC drew an offside penalty, and the next throw to Foreman in the flat picked up 26 yards to the AFC eight. Two plays later, it was Boryla to Gray for an eight-yard TD and Bakken’s extra point provided the final three-point margin. The NFC held on to win by a final score of 23-20.

Despite starting slowly on offense, the NFC ended up with the edge in total yards (389 to 325) and first downs (22 to 14). Each team turned the ball over once, and while the AFC recorded two sacks and harassed the opposing passers consistently, the NFC had more sacks with five.

Jim Hart completed just 10 of 28 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown while giving up an interception, and in relief Mike Boryla was four-of-eight for 73 yards and two TDs with none picked off. Chuck Foreman led the NFC with 85 yards on 13 rushing attempts and Lawrence McCutcheon contributed 75 yards on just seven carries. Foreman also led the club in pass receiving with 5 catches for 48 yards and a score. DE Cedrick Hardman of the 49ers was credited with three of the NFC sacks.

For the AFC, Dan Pastorini was successful on five of 12 throws for 133 yards and a TD with one picked off and Ken Anderson was four-of-12 for 48 yards. O.J. Simpson rushed for 52 yards on 10 attempts and Franco Harris (9 carries, 48 yards) and FB John Riggins of the Jets (10 carries, 47 yards) were right behind. With the one long scoring TD, Ken Burrough topped the team with four pass receptions for 96 yards. Thanks to the two long punt returns, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson (pictured above) edged out Boryla for game MVP honors.

“The whole thing was very unexpected, being here and all,” said Mike Boryla. “I didn’t get called until Monday.”

Boryla’s unexpected participation and strong performance didn’t portend better things to come in his career. While he saw more action in 1976, again in combination with Roman Gabriel, the results again were not strong. With Head Coach Dick Vermeil choosing to pursue a different direction (the Eagles obtained QB Ron Jaworski from the Rams in ’77), Boryla was dealt to Tampa Bay but, beset by injuries, he saw little action and retired. His Pro Bowl appearance ended up being the high point of his pro career.

2006: NFC Wins Turnover-Filled Pro Bowl

The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on February 12, 2006 marked the 27^th consecutive game in the series to be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Coaches were John Fox of Carolina for the NFC and Denver’s Mike Shanahan for the AFC.

There were 50,190 fans in attendance and they sat in a steady rain that began to fall as the game commenced and didn’t let up until the second quarter. The tone for a sloppy first half was set in the opening series when the AFC was twice penalized for false starts. Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning threw to WR Marvin Harrison, a teammate with the Colts, for a 33-yard gain but the AFC ultimately had to punt.

Following a punt by the NFC from its end zone, the AFC had good field position for its next possession but Manning, again intending a pass for Harrison, was intercepted by Chicago CB Nathan Vasher, who returned it 30 yards. Five plays later, the NFC returned the favor when QB Matt Hasselbeck of the Seahawks was picked off by Denver FS John Lynch. The AFC then drove 45 yards in seven plays that featured three runs by RB Edgerrin James of the Colts that covered 22 yards and three completions by Manning, the last to Miami WR Chris Chambers for a 16-yard touchdown. The score was not without controversy as Chambers came down with only one foot in bounds, but it was ruled a catch due to the defender, CB DeAngelo Hall of the Falcons (pictured below), pushing the receiver out of bounds even though it appeared on the replay that Chambers was not touched. Cincinnati’s Shayne Graham added the extra point.

As the game entered the second quarter, the teams exchanged punts. The NFC put together a 10-play, 73-yard series as Atlanta QB Michael Vick completed three passes, the longest to WR Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals for 32 yards, although Vick fumbled a third down snap to force a field goal attempt. Arizona’s Neil Rackers was successful from 32 yards to narrow the score to 7-3.

The AFC responded with a 62-yard drive in 11 plays and resulted in a 31-yard Graham field goal. Vick tossed an interception and Manning threw two more as the first half wound down. The third Manning interception of the game was by Dallas SS Roy Williams, who returned it 11 yards and then lateraled to Hall who picked up 57 yards to give the NFC the ball at the AFC 20. The NFC used up 18 of the last 20 seconds of the half to run three plays, the last of which was a Vick throw to Atlanta teammate TE Alge Crumpler for a 14-yard TD. Rackers added the point after and the score was tied at 10-10 at halftime.

Following a trade of punts to start the third quarter, Carolina QB Jake Delhomme passed the NFC into AFC territory, but he fumbled when sacked by DT Casey Hampton of the Steelers and DT Marcus Stroud of the Jaguars recovered at the AFC 49. However, three plays later a pass by Kansas City QB Trent Green was intercepted by LB Derrick Brooks of the Buccaneers (pictured at top), and he returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. Rackers added the PAT and the NFC held a 17-10 lead.

The AFC had to punt following its next possession but got the ball right back thanks to a fumble by WR Santana Moss of the Redskins at the end of a 20-yard run that was recovered by Denver CB Champ Bailey. In a series that extended into the fourth quarter, the AFC went 68 yards in 10 plays as Green completed three passes and RB Larry Johnson, also of the Chiefs, had a 20-yard carry. Green ran for the last yard and a TD and, with Graham kicking the point after, the score was again tied at 17-17.

The NFC drove 59 yards in 13 plays before facing a fourth-and-two situation after a Hasselbeck pass to Atlanta RB Warrick Dunn picked up 14 yards to the AFC four on a third-and-16 play. While the crowd booed the decision to settle for a field goal, Rackers connected from 22 yards to put the NFC back in front by 20-17 with 6:29 remaining to play.

The next two AFC possessions ended with QB Steve McNair of the Titans fumbling the ball away, with Philadelphia LB Jeremiah Trotter recovering the second at the AFC 18. A Vick bootleg on a third-and-17 play picked up the necessary yardage for a first down at the eight, and the series ended with Rackers kicking a 20-yard field goal to make it a six-point game with 1:13 remaining on the clock.

McNair came out passing for the AFC and two completions got the ball to the NFC 49. But the next three throws fell incomplete and McNair was sacked on the last play of the game. The NFC won by a final score of 23-17.

There were 10 turnovers in all, with six by the AFC. The AFC’s turnovers came on four interceptions and two fumbles, and while the NFC fumbled six times, only two led to turnovers in addition to two interceptions. The NFC gained the most total yards (279 to 260) while the AFC had the edge in first downs (19 to 18).

Matt Hasselbeck completed 10 of 17 passes for 85 yards and no touchdowns while giving up one interception. Michael Vick was four of 12 for 69 yards and a TD while also being picked off once and ran for 17 yards on two carries. Carolina WR Steve Smith had 8 catches for 46 yards. RB Tiki Barber of the Giants led the NFC with 33 yards on 11 rushing attempts. Derrick Brooks, playing in his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl, was named MVP of the game due to his key interception for a touchdown.

For the AFC, Peyton Manning was successful on 13 of 26 throws for 139 yards and a touchdown, but gave up three interceptions while Trent Green went to the air 11 times and had five complete for 39 yards and one interception. Kansas City TE Tony Gonzalez had 5 pass receptions for 36 yards and Marvin Harrison gained 74 yards on his four catches. Larry Johnson rushed for 33 yards on 8 carries.

 “It all goes to the players because there isn’t a lot of scheming,” said Coach Fox of the NFC. “They went out and made plays.”

The win for the NFC, which had lost four of the previous five contests, tied the series at 18-18 since it had gone to the AFC vs. NFC format following the 1970 season.

1991: Kelly Rallies AFC to Win in Pro Bowl

There were 50,345 fans in attendance at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu for the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on February 3, 1991, where the game was being held for the 12^th consecutive year. Coaches were Art Shell of the Raiders for the AFC and San Francisco’s George Seifert for the NFC.

The AFC had the game’s first possession and went 71 yards in eight plays. QB Warren Moon of the Oilers completed a pass to Buffalo WR Andre Reed that covered 38 yards to the NFC 30. A 17-yard run by RB Thurman Thomas of the Bills got the ball to the 13 before the drive stalled and Kansas City’s Nick Lowery kicked a 26-yard field goal.

Later in the period, and following an exchange of punts, the NFC had an opportunity to tie the score on a series highlighted by a pass from Philadelphia QB Randall Cunningham to his Eagles teammate, TE Keith Jackson, who then lateraled to RB Earnest Byner of the Redskins for a total pickup of 59 yards. However, the Nationals came up empty when Morten Andersen of the Saints missed a 40-yard field goal attempt.

Following a long AFC series that extended into the second quarter, Lowery also missed a field goal, from 28 yards. The NFC responded with a long drive of 80 yards in 17 plays. QB Jim Everett of the Rams, an injury replacement for San Francisco’s Joe Montana, completed all six of his passes and rookie RB Johnny Johnson of the Cardinals dove into the end zone from a yard out with 43 seconds left on the clock before halftime. Andersen added the point after and the NFC led by 7-3 at the intermission.

In the third quarter, the NFC had the ball first and put together another promising series. Cunningham, again at quarterback, completed passes to RB Barry Sanders of the Lions for five and 19 yards and 28 yards to Jackson to reach the AFC 15. However, two of the next three plays resulted in sacks and a 48-yard field goal attempt by Andersen was blocked by Buffalo DE Bruce Smith, who had also recorded one of the sacks.

The AFC responded by driving 36 yards in eight plays to a 43-yard field goal by Lowery that narrowed the NFC’s margin to 7-6. Late in the third quarter, and following another exchange of punts, San Francisco WR Jerry Rice caught a pass that was nearly intercepted by CB Rod Woodson of the Steelers and gained 49 yards to the AFC nine yard line. From there, Johnson ran for his second TD and, with the successful extra point by Andersen, the NFC was ahead by 14-6 heading into the final quarter.

Buffalo QB Jim Kelly (pictured at top) threw to WR Anthony Miller of the Chargers for 33 yards on the last play of the third quarter, and as the contest moved into the final period, he combined with other Bills teammates to advance the AFC to another score. Following three straight tosses to Thomas that totaled 20 yards, Kelly completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Reed, threading the ball between two defenders. Lowery converted and the AFC was down by only a point.

Everett came out throwing for the NFC on the next possession. He connected on three passes to WR Gary Clark of the Redskins, the longest for 19 yards, and Sanders ran for a 22-yard touchdown to cap the 80-yard, 11-play series. Andersen kicked the point after and, with 5:11 to go, the NFC was leading by 21-13.

The AFC came back with another scoring drive, with the big play a pass from Kelly to Cincinnati RB James Brooks that covered 49 yards. Lowery kicked a 34-yard field goal to narrow the margin to 21-16.

The NFC went three-and-out and had to punt. With just over two minutes remaining to play, Kelly threw to TE Ferrell Edmunds of the Dolphins for 27 yards and, two plays later, he completed a 13-yard pass to WR Ernest Givins of the Oilers for a touchdown with the clock down to 1:49. Lowery added the extra point to make it a two-point lead for the AFC.

The NFC still had a chance to win and Everett tossed a third-and-18 pass to TE Steve Jordan that gained 29 yards to get into field goal position. However, Andersen’s 46-yard try with seven seconds on the clock was blocked by Miami DE Jeff Cross to preserve the 23-21 win for the AFC.

The NFC finished with a slight edge in total yards (368 to 358), with both teams gaining 90 yards on the ground, and also had more first downs (22 to 17). There were no turnovers.

Jim Kelly, who was named the game’s MVP, completed 13 of 19 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns while Warren Moon was 6 of 11 for 72 yards. Thurman Thomas led the AFC with 38 rushing yards on 7 carries and had four catches for 36 yards. James Brooks was right behind in the ground-gaining department with 36 yards on five attempts and Andre Reed also had four pass receptions, gaining 80 yards and scoring a TD.

For the NFC, Jim Everett (pictured at left) was successful on 13 of 18 throws for 138 yards and Randall Cunningham went to the air 11 times, completing 6 for 168 yards. Barry Sanders rushed for 35 yards on 7 attempts and Johnny Johnson gained 32 yards on 10 carries that included the two TDs. Gary Clark caught 6 passes for 65 yards and Jerry Rice gained 62 yards on his three receptions. Morten Andersen had a rough day, having two field goal attempts blocked and missing another from 40 yards.

“Man, I’m glad the kick went our way today,” said Jim Kelly, referencing his team’s one-point loss in the Super Bowl the previous week against the Giants when Scott Norwood missed a potential game-winning field goal at the end.

The win for the AFC was the first in three years and cut the NFC’s advantage to 12-9 since the all-star contest had switched to the AFC vs. NFC format.

1979: Staubach Rallies NFC to Pro Bowl Win

The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl returned to Los Angeles for the first time in seven years on January 29, 1979. After regularly being played at the Memorial Coliseum for 22 seasons, the annual all-star contest had been held in six different NFL cities since then.  The contest also marked the first time that players wore their respective team helmets rather than helmets with logos designed for the game.

There were 38,333 fans in attendance at the Coliseum on a chilly 45-degree Monday night. Los Angeles Rams season ticket holders had been required to purchase Pro Bowl tickets, and some 13,310 tickets went unused. The first quarter was scoreless, with the AFC failing to convert a fourth-and-seven play at the NFC 36 and Frank Corral of the Rams missing a 37-yard field goal attempt for the NFC.

In the second quarter, after Miami’s Garo Yepremian was short on a 47-yard try for a field goal, the NFC drove 70 yards in 11 plays. QB Archie Manning of the Saints completed four passes and RB Wilbert Montgomery of the Eagles, who had a 17-yard carry along the way, finished the series off at 7:06 into the period with a two-yard touchdown on a fourth down play. However, Corral missed wide on the extra point attempt.

The AFC came right back with a nine-play, 62-yard possession. With less than four minutes remaining in the first half, QB Bob Griese of the Dolphins threw to Seattle WR Steve Largent for back-to-back gains of 27 and 10 yards, and finished off the series with a throw once more to Largent for an eight-yard touchdown. Yepremian added the extra point and the AFC held a 7-6 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, and following a shanked 16-yard punt by Oakland’s Ray Guy, the NFC was backed up by a holding penalty but then proceeded to advance 55 yards. Dallas QB Roger Staubach (pictured at top), who was ineffective in the first quarter, completed five straight passes in the series. Two were to WR Ahmad Rashad of the Vikings for 15 and 17 yards and, following a six-yard run by Montgomery, Staubach connected with WR Tony Hill, a Dallas teammate, in the corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown with 3:43 remaining in the period. Corral converted this time to give the NFC a six-point advantage, and in the game dominated by defense, that was enough.

The teams traded punts as the contest entered the fourth quarter and a Manning pass was intercepted by SS Bill Thompson of the Broncos at the AFC 16. But following one more AFC possession, the NFC was able to control the ball for the last 6:20. They had an opportunity to add more points in the last minute, reaching the AFC five yard line, but Manning fell on the ball twice to run out the clock. The NFC won the low-scoring contest by a final score of 13-7.

The AFC led in total yards (320 to 296) and also had the edge in first downs (18 to 17). 169 yards of the AFC’s total came on the ground, against 151 passing yards, while the NFC threw for 199 yards and rushed for 97. The NFC turned the ball over twice, to one turnover suffered by the AFC.

Roger Staubach completed 9 of 15 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown while giving up one interception. Archie Manning, who played the second and fourth quarters, was 8 of 17 for 78 yards and also had a pass picked off. Wilbert Montgomery ran for 53 yards on 9 carries and RB Tony Dorsett of the Cowboys gained 27 yards on 7 rushing attempts. Ahmad Rashad had 5 pass receptions for 89 yards and was named Player of the Game. G Tom Mack of the Rams finished off his Hall of Fame career with an 11^th Pro Bowl appearance and received a standing ovation from the Los Angeles fans with a minute remaining in the contest.

For the AFC, Terry Bradshaw was successful on 8 of 17 throws for 54 yards and no interceptions. Bob Griese threw 20 times with 10 completions for 122 yards and a TD and also gave up no interceptions. Houston’s star rookie RB Earl Campbell rushed for 66 yards on 12 carries to lead both teams. Steve Largent, the first Seahawk to appear in a Pro Bowl, caught 5 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown, all in the second quarter.

“One of the highlights of my career was just being here,” said Ahmad Rashad (pictured at left) who, along with Steve Largent, set a then-Pro Bowl record for pass receptions. “The Most Valuable Player award was just gravy.”

“I’m not going to go home and stay up all night, but it was disappointing to lose,” said Terry Bradshaw, who had quarterbacked the Steelers to a win over Dallas in the Super Bowl the previous week. “Emotionally, I went into this game drained. I thought I’d be okay but I think I’m still mentally fatigued from the Super Bowl.”

The win gave the NFC a 5-4 lead over the AFC since the restructuring of the Pro Bowl into AFC vs. NFC in 1970. The game moved to Honolulu the following season, leaving the Memorial Coliseum once and for all.

1971: Renfro TDs Lift NFC to Big Win in Pro Bowl

The 21^st Pro Bowl on January 24, 1971 was played under a new format. The annual all-star game that came into being following the 1950 NFL season (an earlier version of the game, called the Pro All-Star Game, was played following the 1938 to ‘42 seasons) had featured a pairing of Eastern vs. Western players. With the merger between the AFL and NFL having come to full fruition for the 1970 season, expanding the league from 16 to 26 teams, the participants now represented the new American and National conferences.  Coaches for the two squads were from the losing teams in the conference championship games, which were John Madden of the Oakland Raiders for the AFC and San Francisco’s Dick Nolan for the NFC.

There was a disappointing crowd of 48,222 fans in attendance at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. They saw the defenses dominate the first half. Following a scoreless first quarter, the AFC got on the board first on a 37-yard field goal by Kansas City’s Jan Stenerud. The NFC responded with a 13-yard field goal by Fred Cox of the Vikings and the score remained tied at 3-3 at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, with San Francisco’s John Brodie at quarterback, the NFC put together a six-play, 84-yard drive. Brodie completed a pass to WR Gene Washington of the Vikings for 31 yards and then connected with his 49er teammate, also a wide receiver named Gene Washington, for 24 yards. That set up a throw to Minnesota HB Dave Osborn, who was open for a 23-yard touchdown. Cox added the extra point.

The NFC got a break on defense when CB Mel Renfro of the Cowboys tipped a Lamonica pass that Green Bay LB Fred Carr intercepted, and that led to a 35-yard field goal by Cox to extend the NFC lead to 13-3. Later in the period, a fumble by Chicago WR Cecil Turner on a punt return gave the AFC favorable field position, and they nearly cashed in when Lamonica threw to Oakland WR Fred Biletnikoff, who caught the ball in the end zone but was ruled to have come down out of bounds.  They were forced to settle for a field goal by Stenerud from 16 yards.

Prior to Turner’s fumble, he and Renfro stood side by side on punt returns, but afterward Coach Nolan told Renfro to handle deep kicks and Turner to move forward. It paid off significantly when, a minute into the fourth quarter, Renfro (pictured at top) returned a punt by Kansas City’s Jerrel Wilson 82 yards for a TD. Forced to hurry his kick due to the rush, Wilson booted a line drive that bounced before Renfro grabbed it and headed down the field, cutting to his left and getting a good block by Chicago LB Dick Butkus on CB Zeke Moore of the Oilers. With Cox adding the extra point, the sensational return opened up a 20-6 lead for the NFC.

That was it until, with five minutes remaining, Renfro fielded another punt by Wilson and ran 56 yards for a touchdown. Again Cox converted and that provided the final tally in a 27-6 win for the NFC.

The NFC had more total yards (337 to 146) and first downs (17 to 11) in what was largely a defensive show. There were a total of seven turnovers, four by the AFC.

John Brodie completed 10 of 26 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown and Fran Tarkenton was 8 of 13 for 69 yards, giving up an interception. Dave Osborn (pictured at left) led in rushing with 45 yards on 10 carries and in receiving yards with 58 on four catches that included a TD. Gene Washington of the 49ers was right behind with 57 yards on two receptions while TE Charlie Sanders of Detroit pulled in five passes for 44 yards. Mel Renfro, with his two punt return touchdowns as well as good play on defense, was named the outstanding back of the game and Fred Carr the game’s outstanding lineman.

Daryle Lamonica, who was harassed heavily by the tough NFC defensive line, had an especially rough passing day, successful on just four of 21 throws for 50 yards, and he was picked off twice. Bob Griese was better with 9 completions in 14 passes for 86 yards, but he was also sacked five times for losses totaling 56 yards. Larry Csonka topped the AFC with 44 rushing yards on six attempts. Marlin Briscoe had three catches for 35 yards and Miami WR Paul Warfield was right behind with 32 yards on his two receptions.

“Actually, it was a pretty even game,” said Coach Nolan of the NFC. “Renfro’s great punt returns were obviously the key things, but I thought Brodie and Fran Tarkenton both called a good game.”

Following the NFC’s win in the first AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, the AFC won the next three. The AFC vs. NFC format for the game remained until the 2013 season, when it was altered again to have the selected players divided up by appointed team captains rather than play for their conferences.

2005: Manning TDs Spur AFC to Win in Pro Bowl

There was a sellout crowd of 50,225 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu for the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on February 13, 2005, marking the 26^th consecutive season that the contest had been staged in Hawaii. The coaches of the teams were Pittsburgh’s Bill Cowher for the AFC and, for the NFC, Jim Mora Jr. of the Falcons.

The AFC scored first on a 62-yard pass play from QB Peyton Manning (pictured above) to Indianapolis teammate WR Marvin Harrison. New England’s Adam Vinatieri added the extra point. LB Joey Porter of the Steelers then intercepted a pass by Eagles QB Donovan McNabb and Manning led the AFC on another scoring drive, going 69 yards in five plays and finishing with a throw to wide-open Pittsburgh WR Hines Ward for a 41-yard TD. With Vinatieri’s conversion, the score was 14-0 heading into the second quarter.

The NFC put together a long scoring series of 10 plays that covered 84 yards and concluded with RB Brian Westbrook of the Eagles running for a 12-yard touchdown. David Akers, also of Philadelphia, added the extra point. However, when the NFC attempted an onside kick, Ward leaped to grab the ball and then ran 39 yards for a TD (pictured below) – the second on a kickoff return in Pro Bowl history (Detroit’s Jack Christiansen ran won 103 yards in 1956 at the time of the old East vs. West format). Vinatieri kicked the point after and the AFC was again in front by 14 points at 21-7.

Buffalo LB Takeo Spikes intercepted a pass by QB Daunte Culpepper of the Vikings and, adding in a lateral to Porter, the AFC had the ball once again in NFC territory. They added more points, driving 38 yards in eight plays. Manning tossed his third TD pass of the game, connecting with TE Antonio Gates of the Chargers from 12 yards out.

The NFC finally got on the board again before the end of the half, driving 65 yards in 10 plays. Akers kicked a 25-yard field goal with 1:45 left on the clock and the AFC took a 28-10 lead into halftime.

The AFC defense was exceptionally aggressive during the first half, which led to grumblings by NFC players and coaches that they were blitzing – something not allowed in the Pro Bowl.

Heading into the third quarter, Atlanta QB Michael Vick rallied the NFC on three straight scoring drives. In his first possession behind center, Vick completed four of six throws, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to WR Torry Holt of the Rams. It finished off an eight-play, 73-yard series and, with Akers adding the PAT, made the score 28-17.

The next NFC series, following an interception by Philadelphia CB Lito Sheppard of a pass by QB Tom Brady of the champion Patriots, went 69 yards in nine plays. It concluded with the elusive Vick running three yards and diving into the end zone for a TD, despite his helmet being knocked off by Baltimore SS Ed Reed.

The AFC came back to add points early in the fourth quarter as Vinatieri kicked a 36-yard field goal to finish a 13-play, 54-yard possession. However, the NFC responded by driving 68 yards in 12 plays and, midway through the fourth quarter, Akers kicked a 21-yard field goal to narrow the tally to 31-27.

That was as far as the NFC got, however. On the next series, the AFC drove 71 yards in six plays to add to their lead. QB Drew Brees of the Chargers passed on a flea-flicker play to his San Diego teammate Gates for a 33-yard gain to set up a four-yard TD carry by yet another Charger, RB LaDainian Tomlinson.

There was still plenty of time, but the AFC defense stopped the next NFC series in five plays and then finished things off when Buffalo CB Nate Clements picked off a Vick throw with two minutes remaining to play. The AFC came away with a 38-27 win.

The NFC had more total yards (492 to 343) and first downs (26 to 15) but also committed three turnovers, to two by the AFC, as well as the TD on the botched onside kick.

Peyton Manning was the game’s MVP after completing 6 passes in 10 attempts for 130 yards, with three for touchdowns. Tom Brady made good on just four of nine tosses for 48 yards and gave up an interception, while Drew Brees completed both of his passes for 58 yards. RB Rudi Johnson of the Bengals was the AFC’s top rusher with 33 yards on six carries. Hines Ward had three catches for 63 yards and a TD, as well as the kickoff return for a score, and San Diego TE Antonio Gates also had three receptions, for 51 yards and a touchdown. Thanks to the long scoring catch, Marvin Harrison accumulated 66 yards on his two pass receptions.

For the NFC, Michael Vick completed 14 of 24 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Also rushing for 10 yards on three carries, he became the first quarterback to both throw and run for a touchdown in a Pro Bowl contest (although a running back, Marcus Allen, had done it in 1986). Daunte Culpepper was successful on 9 of 15 throws for 124 yards, with one intercepted, but Donovan McNabb was a disappointing one-of-eight for 24 yards and also had one pass picked off. RB Tiki Barber of the Giants ran the ball 9 times for 70 yards and Torry Holt pulled in 5 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.

 “I’m not going to say I wasn’t holding my breath over there once Vick started to roll around, but our defense did a great job of stopping him,” said Manning, who was making his fifth Pro Bowl appearance. “It was good we got the game this year after we let the lead slip away last year.” He was referring to the wild 55-52 contest of the preceding year that was pulled out by the NFC.

The win was the fourth in five games for the AFC and broke a tie to give them an 18 to 17 edge over the NFC since the Pro Bowl had adopted the AFC vs. NFC format following the 1970 season.

2002: Gannon Leads AFC from Early Deficit to Beat NFC in Pro Bowl

On Saturday, February 9, 2002 the NFL’s top players came together in the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. The coaches were Pittsburgh’s Bill Cowher for the AFC and Andy Reid of the Eagles for the NFC, whose teams had lost at the conference championship level in the playoffs.

The patriotically-themed opening ceremony featured a bald eagle flying through the stadium and a squadron of F-15s soaring over it. The previous day had been marked by heavy rain that forced both teams to cancel practice, but it was 74 degrees and sunny for the opening kickoff with a sellout crowd of 50,301 at Aloha Stadium. It was the 23^rd consecutive year in which the contest was held in Honolulu.

The NFC scored in record time, after Oakland QB Rich Gannon (pictured above) fumbled on the first play from scrimmage as he attempted to pitch the ball to RB Curtis Martin of the Jets. Philadelphia DE Hugh Douglas recovered to give the NFC the ball at the two yard line. From there, RB Ahman Green of the Packers went in for a touchdown with just 27 seconds expired. David Akers of the Eagles added the extra point.

Following a three-and-out series by the AFC, the NFC was ahead by 10-0 after Akers kicked a 29-yard field goal that was set up by St. Louis QB Kurt Warner’s completion to Arizona WR David Boston that covered 23 yards.

However, Gannon and the AFC caught fire at that point. Two plays later, Gannon threw to WR Marvin Harrison of the Colts for a 55-yard touchdown, beating Tampa Bay CB Ronde Barber. Denver’s Jason Elam added the PAT to narrow the score to 10-7.

The AFC took the lead after CB Deltha O’Neal of the Broncos intercepted a pass that he returned 24 yards to the NFC six, which set up a four-yard touchdown carry by RB Curtis Martin of the Jets. Elam’s extra point made the tally 14-10.

The NFC had a short series and punted, and the AFC needed just five plays to score again. Gannon threw a flea-flicker pass to WR Troy Brown of the Patriots that was wobbly and badly underthrown, but Brown made the catch for a 30-yard gain. Kansas City RB Priest Holmes finished off the possession by running 39 yards for a TD and Elam again booted the extra point.

The NFC put together a 10-play series that ended with Akers kicking a field goal from 41 yards on the last play of the eventful opening period. The teams had combined for a Pro Bowl-record 34 points in the first quarter, with the AFC leading by 21-13.

The ensuing kickoff was returned 54 yards by WR Jermaine Lewis of the Ravens, and that set up another scoring series. Gannon threw his second touchdown pass, this one to Indianapolis TE Ken Dilger from 19 yards out over a leaping LB LaVar Arrington of the Redskins. Gannon called it a day with the AFC up by 28-13.

That was it for the first half scoring until Akers booted his third field goal with six seconds remaining in the half to make the score 28-16 at the intermission.

Early in the fourth quarter, the NFC drove into AFC territory, but Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb was picked off by San Diego LB Junior Seau. However, CB Champ Bailey of the Redskins returned the favor, intercepting a pass by New England’s Tom Brady that allowed the NFC to narrow the margin to 28-23 in the third quarter when McNabb threw to WR Terrell Owens of the 49ers for an eight-yard TD and Akers added the extra point.

The AFC came back with a drive that featured runs by Cincinnati RB Corey Dillon of 29 and 16 yards and was capped by Elam kicking a 38-yard field goal. Two plays later, with 2:49 left on the clock, CB Ty Law of the champion Patriots intercepted a McNabb throw and ran it 31 yards before tossing a lateral to Ravens LB Ray Lewis (pictured below), who went the last 13 yards for a touchdown, dragging three NFC players into the end zone.

The NFC scored once more in the last two minutes as McNabb connected with San Francisco RB Garrison Hearst for a 15-yard touchdown. The NFC attempted an onside kick, but safety Rod Woodson of the Ravens recovered for the AFC to end the threat. The AFC won by a final score of 38-30.

The AFC had more total yards (398 to 346) although the NFC had the edge in first downs (23 to 19). The AFC gained 201 yards on the ground, to 197 through the air, while the NFC, playing from behind for most of the contest, ran the ball only 12 times for 36 yards and had 310 passing yards. The AFC recorded two sacks and consistently maintained pressure on the three NFC quarterbacks. The NFC also turned the ball over four times, to two turnovers by the AFC.

After a rocky start, Rich Gannon completed 8 of 10 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, and was named MVP for the second straight year. Pittsburgh’s Kordell Stewart was 6 of 12 for 45 yards and Tom Brady, who entered the game in the fourth quarter, was successful on two of five throws for 22 yards with one interception. Priest Holmes was the leading rusher with 77 yards on 7 carries that included a TD and Corey Dillon contributed 58 yards on six attempts. Marvin Harrison was the AFC’s top receiver with four catches for 80 yards and the one long touchdown. Shane Lechler of the Raiders had punts of 70 and 73 yards, the two longest in Pro Bowl history.

For the NFC, Donovan McNabb completed 12 of 25 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown but also was intercepted twice. McNabb also tied for the team rushing lead with one 12-yard carry while RB Marshall Faulk of the Rams also gained 12 yards, on five rushing attempts. QB Jeff Garcia of the 49ers was successful on 11 of 19 throws for 111 yards and Kurt Warner, who started the game, went 6 of 14 for 63 yards with one interception. Terrell Owens topped the receivers with 8 catches for 122 yards. David Akers kicked three field goals, but his try from 62 yards in the fourth quarter fell short.

“You look around and you’ve got the best receivers, the best tight end, and the best line,” said the 36-year-old Rich Gannon, who became the first player to win back-to-back Pro Bowl MVP awards since the format had changed to the AFC vs. NFC following the 1970 season. “It’s like a dream come true for a quarterback. If I could have this every week, we’d be in business.”

Gannon was playing in his third straight Pro Bowl, a streak that would reach four following the 2002 season.

It was the fifth win in the last six games for the AFC, tying the series since the contest had moved to the AFC/NFC format at 16 wins apiece.

1981: Murray’s 4 Field Goals Propel NFC to Win in Pro Bowl

It was a hot day in paradise for the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on February 1, 1981. There were 50,360 fans in attendance at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu for the second straight game in the annual NFL all-star series to be played at that locale. Head coaches were Atlanta’s Leeman Bennett for the NFC and Sam Rutigliano of the Browns for the AFC, whose teams had reached the Division playoff round in their respective conferences.

The contest quickly turned into a defensive struggle. Detroit rookie Ed Murray’s 31-yard field goal put the NFC in front and was the only score of the first quarter – he also missed from 37 yards (Murray pictured above).

In the second quarter, Cleveland QB Brian Sipe connected with WR Stanley Morgan of the Patriots for a nine-yard touchdown. New England’s John Smith added the extra point and the AFC led by 7-3.

Later in the period, turnovers by the AFC led to Murray field goals of 31 and 34 yards to put the NFC back in front by 9-7 at the half. The first was set up when Dallas DT Randy White recovered a Sipe fumble and the second came after CB Joe Lavender of the Redskins intercepted a pass on the next series.

The game remained close following a scoreless third quarter, but in the fourth quarter QB Steve Bartkowski threw a perfect pass to his Atlanta teammate, WR Alfred Jenkins, who pulled in the ball without breaking stride at the AFC 45 and continued on down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown. Murray added the extra point to expand the NFC lead to 16-7.

The touchdown had been set up when LB Jack Reynolds of the Rams stopped Buffalo RB Joe Cribbs for no gain on a fourth-and-one play. The situation repeated itself later in the final period after the AFC drove deep into NFC territory, and with the exact same result as Reynolds stuffed Cribbs on fourth-and-one. Once again it led to points for the NFC, with Murray booting his fourth field goal from 36 yards.

The NFC picked up another two points when OT Art Shell of the newly-crowned league champs, the Oakland Raiders, was penalized for holding in the end zone. Murray had a chance to tie Garo Yepremian’s single-game Pro Bowl record for field goals of five, but his attempt from 37 yards with 22 seconds remaining in the game hit the crossbar and was no good. It was inconsequential to the outcome as the NFC won for the fourth straight year by a final score of 21-7.

The NFC had the edge in total yards (357 to 229) and first downs (20 to 12). The AFC gained just 65 yards on 22 running plays. The AFC turned the ball over four times and also was penalized on 9 occasions, at a cost of 74 yards, in the error-filled game, while the NFC was flagged 10 times for 60 yards.

Steve Bartkowski completed 9 of 21 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. Philadelphia’s Ron Jaworski was successful on 6 of 16 throws for 47 yards. RB Ottis Anderson of the Cardinals was the top rusher with 70 yards on 10 carries. With the long scoring reception, Alfred Jenkins, a late roster addition replacing WR Tony Hill of the Cowboys, led the pass receivers with 91 yards on three catches. Another Falcon, RB William Andrews, also caught three passes, for 17 yards, to go along with his 10 rushing attempts for 39 yards. Defensively, Tampa Bay DE Lee Roy Selmon (pictured below) and DT Randy White of the Cowboys were especially effective for the NFC, with Selmon logging two sacks and four tackles.

Brian Sipe had 10 completions in 15 attempts for 142 yards, but tossed two interceptions and fumbled the ball away once. Dan Fouts of the Chargers completed only four of 15 throws for 53 yards. The NFL’s top rusher, RB Earl Campbell of the Oilers, was held to 24 yards on 8 carries. John Jefferson was the AFC’s top receiver with three catches for 48 yards.

“Last year I watched this game on television,” said Ed Murray, who was named as the game’s MVP. “At that time, I didn’t even know whether I’d make it in the league, much less in this game. I can’t believe it.”

Murray was the first placekicker to be named the game’s Most Valuable Player since Garo Yepremian in 1974. The Canadian kicker would go on to play a total of 19 years in the NFL, mostly with Detroit, and was named to the Pro Bowl after one other season.