AFC 38 - NFC 27
(February 13, 2005)

While the Pro Bowl of 2005 did not possess the same fireworks as 2004, it did provide for some great moments as a veteran quarterback established a passing touchdown record and a new star emerged. The game was played before 50,225 at Honolulu. The coaches were Bill Cowher of Pittsburgh and Jim Mora of Atlanta.

The AFC scored twice in the first quarter to open the game. The Colts’ Peyton Manning threw a 62 yard touchdown pass the teammate Marvin Harrison then came right back with a 41 yard strike to Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward. The AFC also seemed more aggressive on defense in the first half, and a few NFC players and coaches were concerned that their opponents seemed to be running blitzes, which are not allowed in the Pro Bowl. The NFC countered with an 84-yard drive led by Minnesota’s Daunte Culpepper, pulling within 14-7 on a nice 12 yard touchdown run by Philadelphia running back Brian Westbrook early in the second quarter. The NFC then attempted an onside kick after Westbrook's score that hit Ward squarely in the hands, and the Pittsburgh wideout faced only bad tackling on his way to a 39 yard score and the second kickoff return touchdown in the 55 year history of the Pro Bowl (Jack Christiansen, Detroit, 103 yards, 1956). Manning's third touchdown pass of the game, a 13-yarder to San Diego tight end Antonio Gates, gave the AFC a 28-7 lead with 5:50 left in the first half. Eagles kicker David Akers was good on a 33 yarder near the end of the half to pull the NFC within 28-10.

Michael Vick of Atlanta entered the game in the third quarter and got the NFC back into it, throwing a 27 yard touchdown pass to Rams receiver Torry Holt before scoring himself on a three yard run to make it a 28-24 game. A 44 yard field goal from Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri extended the AFC lead to 31-24 early in the fourth quarter, but the NFC got those points back on Akers' 29 yarder with 9:04 remaining in the game. From there, the San Diego connection took over for the AFC. The Charger’s Drew Brees hit Gates for a 33 yard gain on a flea-flicker play, and LaDainian Tomlinson finished the drive with a 4 yard TD run with 5:15 to play. The final was 38-27.

Manning, who completed six of his 10 passes, threw three touchdown passes to extend his career record for the Pro Bowl game to 11. The quarterback was named the player of the game in his fifth trip to the Pro Bowl. Vick was 14-of-24 for 205 yards and a score and became the first quarterback to throw a touchdown pass and rush for a score in the same Pro Bowl. The NFC’s Daunte Culpepper also passed for 124 yards.

ROSTER