HONOLULU — Sack-happy defensive end J.J. Watt went out for a couple of passes as a wide receiver, retiring center Jeff Saturday snapped to two Mannings on opposite teams and the NFC blew past the AFC 62-35 in a Pro Bowl that could be the league’s last.
Whether the NFL’s all-star game will return or not is a question league officials will ponder the next few months. And the players gave plenty to consider on both sides of the argument yesterday.
The NFC was unstoppable on offense, with nearly each player putting up fantasy-worthy lines in limited play. The AFC, meanwhile, had five turnovers and scored most of its points well after the game was no longer competitive.
Giants wideout Victor Cruz broke a Pro Bowl record with 10 catches, and teammate Eli Manning threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
“We understood exactly what [commissioner Roger Goodell] wanted, guys were making plays all over the field,” Cruz said. “There was a little bit more high intensity than in years past and we were excited to play.”
Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph was voted the game’s MVP with five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Saturday, the Packers center retiring at the end of this season, played for both teams though he came representing the NFC. He lined up on one play for the AFC to snap the ball one last time to Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, his longtime former Colts teammate. Saturday played 13 seasons in Indianapolis, all with Manning — except 2011, when Manning was out with a neck injury.
“It’s something that I’ll always remember,” Manning said, “that he’ll always remember, to kind of get that one, final snap together.”
Saturday played later in the game for the NFC, snapping to Peyton’s brother Eli.
Watt, who had 20 1/2 sacks for Houston, lined up as a wide receiver on the AFC’s third play, but missed a pass from Peyton Manning. He was targeted one more time, but didn’t make a catch.
If players were coasting this time around, it was less obvious. The AFC just played poorly. And fans didn’t boo much — the stands were relatively empty even though the game sold enough tickets to lift a local television blackout.
In the second quarter, referee Ed Hochuli drew cheers when announcing a pass interference penalty on Denver cornerback Champ Bailey in the second quarter — the first flag of the game.
“Yes, there are penalties in the Pro Bowl,” Hochuli said, drawing laughs and loud cheers.
Cincinnati’s A.J. Green had three TD catches for the AFC.