NFC strikes for 55-52 victory in wild Pro Bowl

By Greg Beacham ~ The Associated Press

HONOLULU -- There was nothing relaxing about this Sunday afternoon in Hawaii: The highest-scoring Pro Bowl in history also might have been the most exciting edition of the NFL's all-star game.

MVP Marc Bulger threw a Pro Bowl-record four TD passes, and Detroit's Dre' Bly returned an interception 32 yards for the go-ahead score with 4:50 to play during the NFC's rally from an 18-point deficit in the final 13 minutes of a 55-52 victory over the AFC.

And it wasn't over until Indianapolis' Mike Vanderjagt -- the automatic kicker who didn't miss a field goal or an extra point all season -- was barely wide right on a 51-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

The 25th straight sellout crowd at Aloha Stadium loved this thriller, with both teams' millionaire players giving their all for the paltry $35,000 given to each winner. With 42 points in the helter-skelter fourth quarter, the teams easily topped the 82 total points scored in 2000.

Shaun Alexander had three touchdowns for the NFC, which scored 28 straight points in the fourth period to set the scoring record for a single team. Torry Holt caught seven passes for 128 yards and a score.

Bly, Corey Chavous and Champ Bailey all had fourth-quarter interceptions.

Thanks to an incredible surge that had the stars dancing on the sidelines, the NFC won for just the second time in eight meetings. First-time Pro Bowlers Bulger, Alexander and Bly led the way in a game with newcomers filling nearly half of the rosters.

Peyton Manning passed for 342 yards and three touchdowns, but he couldn't stop the AFC from falling apart. Manning threw a 10-yard TD pass to Hines Ward with 1:54 left, and after Bulger threw an end-zone interception, Manning led the AFC into scoring territory.

But he was sacked with 4 seconds left, and Vanderjagt barely missed for the second time Sunday. He also made one field goal.