Rich Gannon got the AFC off to a winning start in the Pro Bowl, then took the rest of the day off.
Gannon, who led the Oakland Raiders to their best season in 10 years, passed for 160 yards and two touchdowns in the first 11 minutes Sunday as the AFC rolled to a 38-17 victory over the NFC.
It was enough to earn MVP honors for the 35-year-old veteran playing in his second straight Pro Bowl after languishing in a backup role for most of his first 11 NFL seasons.
By winning for the fourth time in the last five Pro Bowls, the AFC trimmed the NFC's lead to 16-15 since the game went to its present format in 1971.
The AFC scored the first three times it had the ball on Gannon's two scoring passes and a 29-yard field goal by Matt Stover, and led by at least two touchdowns the rest of the way.
Gannon capped an 87-yard, nine-play drive following the opening kickoff by throwing an 8-yard scoring pass to Tony Gonzalez, who had six receptions for 108 yards -- all in the first half.
Following a punt, Gannon directed his team 90 yards in 10 plays, capping the drive with a 16-yard scoring pass to Marvin Harrison, who had eight catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns.
The NFC finally got a first down two minutes into the second quarter while moving into position for a 48-yard field goal by Martin Gramatica.
On its next possession, the NFC moved to the AFC 32 before Jevon Kearse deflected Jeff Garcia's pass into the arms of Jets linebacker Mo Lewis, who returned the interception 16 yards. The AFC then moved 56 yards on 10 plays, scoring on a 2-yard pass from Manning to Jimmy Smith. Smith, who caught three touchdown passes in the AFC's 51-31 loss to the NFL last year, has scored a Pro Bowl career record five TDs. The NFC then tried an onside kick, but it didn't work, and Manning, who completed 16 of 22 passes for 150 yards, threw a 24-yard scoring pass to Indianapolis teammate Harrison to cap a 36-yard, five-play drive and make it 31-10. Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper, who completed just 2-of-9 passes for 11 yards with one interception in the first half, threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Torry Holt with 3:22 left in the third period to draw the NFC within 14 points. On its next possession, the NFC failed on a fourth-and-1 play at its 44, and Edgerrin James ran 20 yards for the game-clinching touchdown three plays later, making it 38-17 with 11:19 remaining.<
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guestb9f37c5dff62bb8e88157dfb said:
Ahem. Irizarry said that he currently runs the office.
Dirk van Ulden said:
guestb9f37c5dff62bb8e88157dfb said:
guestb9f37c5dff62bb8e88157dfb said:
[thumbup]
Dirk van Ulden said:
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