NFC gets what it needs

The NFC gives the effort required to win the Pro Bowl for the second time in six years

Shaun Rogers worked the room, gathering autographs from his temporary teammates after yesterday's Pro Bowl.

When the Lions' behemoth defensive tackle got to Derrick Brooks, he had two words for the Bucs veteran linebacker.

"Car thief!"

Then Rogers laughed and so did Brooks. They were among several NFC defensive players who could've won the Pro Bowl's MVP award and the new Cadillac that goes with it.

Rogers contributed a sack for 8 yards and a fumble recovery.

But Brooks became the proud new owner because he took his interception of a Trent Green pass for a 59-yard ride to the end zone in the third quarter. It gave the NFC the lead, which turned the momentum in the NFC's 23-17 victory, the conference's second in six years.

"It all goes to the players, because there isn't a lot of scheming," NFC coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers said.

A crowd of more than 49,000 at Aloha Stadium saw it, and the NFL announced paid attendance of 50,190. It's the game's 27th consecutive sellout since they started playing it here in 1980.

Fans expecting fireworks from the NFL's brightest offensive stars probably would've had better luck watching the EA Sports video game championships. John Madden, the former coach who lends his name to that product, wasn't on hand yesterday for his Hall of Fame introduction.

Both offenses were missing, too.

A total of 10 turnovers, including six by the AFC, stopped many a drive before they could get started. Surprisingly, neither number is a Pro Bowl record. The AFC gave it away eight times in 1974, in the same game that the squads combined for 12.

Aloha Stadium hadn't seen a game this sloppy since ... well, last month, when college All-Stars bumbled around in the Hula Bowl.

And what do the Hula Bowl and Pro Bowl have in common? Guys trying to become a team in one week.

"I think this is my fourth one, and usually they do go like this," AFC coach Mike Shanahan said.

This one is further proof that the 2004 Pro Bowl, which went down to the very end with the NFC winning 55-52, was an anomaly.

Even rookies know this.

"When you've got a lot of guys who aren't used to playing together, there are going to be problems (on offense)," Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu said.

Shanahan and receiver Chris Chambers said rain contributed to the lack of offense in the first half, which ended tied at 10.

"It was coming down pretty good and the balls were slick," Shanahan said. "In the second half we had a lot of guys playing who weren't playing in the first half."

Chargers tight end Antonio Gates said the rain had nothing to do with it.

"The NFC wanted it more today. They made plays," Gates said. "I don't think the rain bothered us at all. The NFC's been losing most of these games, and they wanted it. They came out with the attitude that this is a real game."

Arizona kicker Neil Rackers' performance was a case of beauty in the eye of the holder (punter Josh Bidwell), as well as the rest of the NFC.

His three field goals were mere chip shots of 32, 22 and 20. But on a day when getting into the end zone was a tough proposition, they were needed.

"You've got to make those," said Rackers, a first-time Pro Bowl selectee. "This was a great week and everything, but it makes it better when you do what you need to do to get the $40,000 instead of the $20,000."

Even with the 11 points Rackers racked up, the AFC was still in it to the last play, but Michael Strahan separated Steve McNair from the ball and it was over the way it began.

Other defensive standouts included Tatupu, with a game-high eight tackles, and Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall, with five tackles and a solid showing against Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, who had promised to "put on a show." Hall turned out to be a showstopper, as Johnson caught just two passes for 11 yards.

"Of course I knew we were going to win, with me chasing Chad around," Hall said.

Hall also turned in the game's best "running" play, as Roy Williams handed off to him for a 57-yard run after Williams' second-quarter interception of Peyton Manning -- one of three times the Colts' QB was picked in the first half.

Denver's Champ Bailey and John Lynch tried to match the NFC's defensive big plays, with Bailey getting an interception and a fumble recovery and Lynch a pick. But the AFC converted on just two of the NFC's turnovers.

Fox's Panthers lost to the Patriots in the 2004 Super Bowl, starting an ongoing three-win streak for the AFC in the big game. That made him even happier to help the NFC win something.

"We had talent at all three levels," Fox said. "The defensive line, the linebackers, the secondary. They all did a tremendous job."

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