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NFL Pro Bowl Game Summary - NFC vs. AFC

(Sunday, February 2nd)

Final Score: AFC 45, NFC 20

Honolulu, HI (Sports Network) - Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins rushed for two touchdowns and Oakland's Rich Gannon threw for two more scores to lead the AFC to a 45-20 victory over the NFC in the Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium.

Williams finished with 56 yards rushing on 11 carries, caught three passes for 18 more yards and forced a fumble on special teams to earn Player of the Game honors. Gannon, who played only in the first half, finished 12-of-18 for 102 yards without being intercepted.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning completed 5-of-11 passes for 98 yards with one touchdown and an interception for the AFC, while Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe went 9-of-19 passing for 125 yards with an interception.

Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez caught five passes for 98 yards with a score in the win.

Brad Johnson of the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers threw a pair of late touchdown passes for the NFC, finishing 12-of-17 for 107 yards with two interceptions.

Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb led the NFC with 24 yards rushing on three carries and completed 10-of-24 passes for 96 yards with one interception. San Francisco's Jeff Garcia started for the NFC and completed just 4-of-12 passes for 35 yards with three interceptions.

San Francisco's Terrell Owens caught five passes for 70 yards in a losing effort.

The AFC jumped out to a 28-6 lead by halftime on a pair of touchdown passes by Gannon and two rushing scores by Williams.

The AFC got off to a fast start, as Miami's Jason Taylor picked off Garcia on the opening possession of the game. Starting at the NFC's 31-yard line, Williams took the handoff and raced 18 yards on the first play of the drive and scored from the one three plays later to give the AFC a 7-0 lead just 2:45 into the game.

Michael Lewis of the New Orleans Saints returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to set up a 45-yard field goal by Eagles kicker David Akers, as the NFC cut its deficit to 7-3 less than three minutes later.

Gannon led the AFC to another touchdown on its second possession, capping an eight-play, 71-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Gonzalez. Gannon completed 5-of-6 passes for 52 yards on the march, including an 18-yard reception by Gonzalez that gave the AFC a first down at the NFC's 35-yard line.

Oakland's Rod Woodson picked off a Garcia pass and returned the ball 17 yards to the NFC 24-yard line to set up an 13-yard touchdown pass from Gannon to Buffalo's Travis Henry. Gannon threw for 35 yards on the drive that put the AFC in front 21-3 with 10:20 left in the second quarter.

Akers kicked a Pro Bowl record 53-yard field goal with 4:27 remaining in the first half to cut the NFC's deficit to 21-6.

The AFC answered with a 12-play, 71-yard drive to open a 28-6 cushion. Williams, despite colliding with Bledsoe on the handoff, ran over Washington's Champ Bailey on his way to the end zone from the one.

The first half ended with Woodson intercepting his second pass, this one thrown by McNabb. The AFC defense moved the ball deep into the NFC end of the field with several laterals, but one was ruled an illegal forward pass. Taylor carried for 45 yards on the return.

On the opening drive of the second half, Bledsoe completed a pass to Gonzalez for 29 yards on 3rd-and-10 to give the AFC a first down at the NFC five. The drive stalled and New England's Adam Vinatieri booted a 20-yard field goal to give the AFC a 31-6 advantage.

The Patriots' Ty Law stepped in front of a Johnson pass and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown to increase the AFC lead to 38-6 with 11:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Manning threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Pittsburgh's Hines Ward with 7:31 to play in the contest to make it 45-6.

The NFC added a pair of late touchdowns to complete the scoring. Joe Horn of the Saints caught a 12-yard touchdown toss from Johnson to make the score 45-13 with 5:01 to play. Tampa's Mike Alstott took a shuffle pass from Johnson and scored the final touchdown of the game to complete the scoring.

Game Notes

The AFC has won six of the last seven Pro Bowls and leads the series, 17-16... Tennessee's Jeff Fisher served as the AFC's head coach, while Philadelphia's Andy Reid led the NFC squad...Miami's Zach Thomas and Sam Madison each had an interception for the AFC, which had six picks in the game... Each of the AFC's players earned $30,000 for the win, with the NFC's stars receiving $15,000 apiece.

02/02 22:19:37 ET


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