NFC defenders at
home on an islandIt took some time, but the NFC’s
secondary figured out the AFC’s
vertical passing game
One way or another, NFC defensive backs found themselves in the middle of most of the big plays in yesterday's Pro Bowl.
It looked like it would be a long afternoon for the NFC secondary -- in every possible sense -- early in the game. But the DBs came up with the momentum-turning plays in the fourth quarter, sparking the NFC's 55-52 comeback victory at Aloha Stadium.
"They kept trying to kill us throwing deep balls all day," Washington cornerback Champ Bailey said. "We just stayed tough and kept playing."
Three AFC quarterbacks rolled up 542 yards through the air, led by Peyton Manning's game-record 342, as the team built a 38-13 lead early in the third quarter.
But the NFC forced six AFC turnovers in the second half and came up with interceptions on three consecutive AFC possessions in the fourth quarter to fuel the comeback.
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Corey Chavous of the Minnesota Vikings ran back an interception for a touchdown for the NFC in the fourth quarter yesterday at Aloha Stadium.
"We felt like when it got to 38-20 we had a chance," said Minnesota's Corey Chavous, who came up with one of the interceptions. "At that point you just want to keep fighting, and we had guys step up and make plays."
With blitzing and bump-and-run coverage outlawed in the NFL All-Star game, the defensive backs were left to chase speedsters Marvin Harrison, Chad Johnson, Derrick Mason and Hines Ward across the field on a steamy Halawa afternoon.
"As a corner it's hard, especially when you've got three corners and they've got four receivers and they run long routes all game," Bailey said after the game, which ran three hours and 51 minutes.
On the AFC's first play of the game, Cincinnati's Johnson got behind Dallas safety Roy Williams and Detroit cornerback Dre Bly to haul in a 90-yard touchdown pass from Steve McNair. The AFC had three pass plays of 50 yards or more.
But Bly recovered and gave the NFC its first lead by intercepting a Manning pass and returning it 32 yards for a touchdown with 4:50 left in the game.
"They kind of had us twisted up back there (on the McNair-to-Johnson touchdown), but we were able to put it together at the end and get that victory," Bly said.
Bailey helped keep the NFC in contention by breaking up five passes and intercepting another. In addition to his score, Bly broke up two passes and forced a fumble.
On his go-ahead touchdown, Bly stepped in front of Mason on a short pass to the left side and sprinted untouched to the end zone.
"It was curl and I just read Peyton, read the receiver and was able to break on it," he said.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Washington's Champ Bailey, Minnesota's Corey Chavous and Chicago's Jerry Azumah celebrated an NFC touchdown yesterday during their 55-52 win over the AFC.
Chavous set up the clinching score on the AFC's next possession, returning an interception 39 yards to the AFC 2. Shaun Alexander scored one play later to give the NFC a 55-45 lead.
Bailey said it was a brief altercation between Chavous and AFC tight end Tony Gonzalez that got the NFC back into the game emotionally.
"It's an All-Star game, but you're still competing," Chavous said. "You have to have that dog in you out there and we did that today. We had it in us."
Said Bailey: "We got pumped up and we started talking about 'we can win it,' and everybody believed it."
Although he didn't have an interception, Chicago cornerback Jerry Azumah might have been the busiest of the bunch. In addition to chasing receivers, Azumah returned seven kickoffs for a game-record 228 yards. His 60-yarder set up an NFC touchdown early in the fourth quarter that cut the AFC's lead to 45-34.
"This doesn't happen often, so you've just got to take advantage of it and have fun at the same time, and win," Azumah said.
"We gave the fans what they really wanted. Everybody was out there playing hard, but at the same time playing fun, and that's what it's about."
NFC 55, AFC 52
First Quarter
AFC 17 14 7 14 -- 52 NFC 10 3 14 28 -- 55
AFC--Johnson 90 pass from McNair (Vanderjagt kick), 12:25.
AFC--Reed 23 blocked punt return (Vanderjagt kick), 11:02.
NFC--Alexander 12 run (Wilkins kick), 7:29.
NFC--FG Wilkins 28, 2:52.
AFC--FG Vanderjagt 27, :11.Second Quarter
NFC--FG Wilkins 38, 10:07.
AFC--Harrison 50 pass from Manning (Vanderjagt kick), 6:44.
AFC--Gonzalez 9 pass from Manning (Vanderjagt kick), :54.Third Quarter
AFC--J.Lewis 22 run (Vanderjagt kick), 11:08.
NFC--Holt 12 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick), 8:08.
NFC--McCardell 2 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick), 5:47.Fourth Quarter
AFC--Portis 23 pass from T.Green (Vanderjagt kick), 13:14.
NFC--Crumpler 33 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick), 12:54.
NFC--Alexander 5 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick), 5:43.
NFC--Bly 32 interception return (A.Green run), 4:50.
NFC--Alexander 2 run (Wilkins kick), 3:32.
AFC--Ward 10 pass from Manning (Vanderjagt kick), 1:54.
A--50,127.
RUSHING--AFC, J.Lewis 8-58, Portis 5-27, Holmes 6-9, Ward 1-9, Richardson 3-8, T.Green 2-0, Manning 1-0. NFC, Alexander 13-66, A.Green 7-40. Davis 4-21, Culpepper 1-9, Bulger 1-0.
AFC NFC First downs 34 22 Total Net Yards 626 396 Rushes-yards 26-111 26-136 Passing 515 260 Punt Returns 3-18 2-20 Kickoff Returns 10-214 8-247 Interceptions Ret. 2-27 3-71 Comp-Att-Int 30-57-3 18-37-2 Sacked-Yards Lost 3-27 1-0 Punts 3-52.7 5-37.6 Fumbles-Lost 6-3 1-0 Penalties-Yards 5-52 7-61 Time of Possession 32:09 27:51
PASSING--AFC, McNair 1-3-0-90, Manning 22-41-2-342, T.Green 7-12-0-110, Harrison 0-1-1-0. NFC, Culpepper 2-7-0-57, Hasselbeck 4-9-1-51, Bulger 12-21-1-152.
RECEIVING--AFC, Mason 6-113, Johnson 5-156, Harrison 5-94, Gonzalez 5-56, Heap 3-43, Ward 3-36, Portis 1-23, J.Lewis 1-14, Holmes 1-7. NFC, Holt 7-128, Coles 4-55, Alexander 2-6, Crumpler 1-33, Franks 1-19, Davis 1-9, Beasley 1-8, McCardell 1-2.
MISSED FIELD GOALS--AFC, Vanderjagt, 52 (SH), 51 (WR). NFC, Wilkins 50 (SH), 38 (WR).
