Johnson's Late TD Lifts AFC Over NFC 41-34 In Pro Bowl

Miami, FL (Sports Network) – Tennessee’s Chris Johnson ran for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, proving to be the game-winner in the 40th edition of the Pro Bowl, as the AFC downed the NFC, 41-34, at Sun Life Stadium.

The 2010 version of the NFL’s annual showcase game was played a week prior to the Super Bowl as opposed to its accustomed time slot the week after. As a result, no members of the Colts or Saints, who will meet in Super Bowl XLIV at the same site next Sunday, were able to participate.

Many of those players were on the sideline to watch Houston’s Matt Schaub get the AFC out to a fast start with touchdown passes to Texans teammate Andre Johnson and Denver’s Brandon Marshall.

Schaub finished with 189 yards on 13-of-17 attempts and took home the MVP award.

San Diego’s Vincent Jackson caught seven passes for 122 yards with a TD from Jacksonville’s David Garrard, who ended with 183 yards on 8-of-14 attempts and handed off to Jaguars teammate Maurice Jones-Drew for a rushing score.

Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay threw for 197 yards and two TDs on 15-of-19 attempts for the NFC, which had won the previous two installments of this contest. DeSean Jackson of Philadelphia caught a pair of touchdowns and had 101 yards on six receptions in defeat.

Chris Johnson’s two-yard score capped a rare lengthy drive that covered 76 yards in 11 plays to put the AFC up 41-34 with 5:59 left in the game.

Pittsburgh’s James Harrison, who had an interception return for a touchdown called back earlier in the game due to a penalty, picked off Dallas’ Tony Romo deep in AFC territory on the ensuing drive, and the AFC ran out the clock to secure the win.

A Schaub-to-Andre Johnson 33-yard hookup opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game.

Philadelphia’s David Akers put the NFC on the board with a 47-yard field goal, and Marshall hauled in a 23-yard score for a 14-3 lead with seven minutes left in the opening stanza.

Rogers then threw a 48-yard bomb to New York’s Steve Smith near the end of the first and hit DeSean Jackson with a screen pass that the speedster turned into a seven-yard touchdown 3:37 into the second.

Dan Carpenter of Miami finished off the first-half scoring with a 30-yard field goal, tying the game, 17-17.

On the second play from scrimmage out of the break, DeSean Jackson took a quick screen from his everyday quarterback, Donovan McNabb, and raced 58 yards for a touchdown.

Vincent Jackson’s 48-yard TD grab just 51 seconds later tied things again.

Shortly after Denver’s Brian Dawkins picked off McNabb on the next possession, Jones-Drew went in from four yards out. Carpenter’s 26-yard field goal with 5:09 left in the third made it a 34-24 contest.

Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams ran for a seven-yard score to cut into the deficit four minutes later, and Akers booted a 39-yard early in the fourth quarter to tie the game.

Game Notes

The all-time series between the AFC and NFC is now tied, 20-20…This year’s version of the Pro Bowl was played outside out Honolulu, Hawaii for the first time in 31 years. The game is slated to return there for the 2010 and 2011 seasons…Baltimore’s Ray Rice led the AFC in rushing with 42 yards on seven carries, while McNabb led the other side with 26 yards on four carries and threw for 78 yards on 3-of-10 throws…Romo ended with 154 yards on 13-of-18 attempts, while Tennessee’s Vince Young had 47 yards on 6-of-12 tosses for the AFC, which outgained its opponent, 517-470.