Pro Bowl 2012: AFC Takes Out NFC In A Thrilling Grudge Match, 59-41

Pro Bowl Bonus Money: $50,000 For AFC And $25,000 For NFC

The 2012 Pro Bowl is over as the AFC took home a 59-41 victory over the NFC thanks in large part to four touchdowns from Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall (and very little defense from the NFC). An all-star game in a contact sport like football is hard to do because inevitably players are going to avoid going 100 percent so as to not injure themselves or someone else. That's why the Pro Bowl isn't always the best game to watch.

And the NFL isn't like MLB where the all-star game actually means something (home field advantage in the World Series). Instead, the only thing motivating players to actually play hard is money.

The players from the winning team, which was the AFC in this case, pulled home an extra $50,000, while the players from the losing team received $25,000.

Judging by Sunday night's game, the AFC knew they'd be doubling their money if they won as they scored three fourth quarter touchdowns to secure the victory.

For highlight videos and a recap of the Pro Bowl, visit this StoryStream.

Pro Bowl 2012: Brandon Marshall Is Your MVP

Your 2012 Pro Bowl MVP is Brandon Marshall. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver caught six passes for 176 yards and a whopping four touchdowns. Those four touchdowns are a new Pro Bowl record and it earned Marshall the MVP honors of the game.

There are a couple of Marshall highlights you need to watch. First, here's Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger hitting Marshall for a looong touchdown pass. Second, and probably the best, here's Marshall tipping a pass off his foot and into his arms for his third touchdown.

Football is a contact sport with lots of injuries so we'll never have a Pro Bowl that actually demonstrates good football fundamentals -- players take it easy to avoid injury -- but a player like Marshall scoring four touchdowns is a good consolation.

Check out SB Nation's The Phinsider, where they're talking about Marshall's record-setting Pro Bowl performance.

ANIMATED: Marshawn Lynch's Flop, Drew Brees' Dropkick Redeem Pro Bowl

Pro Bowl 2012 Final Score: AFC Sets Record, Evens Series With NFC In 59-41 Win

With a 59-41 victory at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, AFC set a new record for points by a single team in a Pro Bowl and torched the NFC to even the all-time series in the NFL's all-star game.

The AFC scored 21 straight points in the fourth quarter to break the previous record for points by a team, set by the AFC team that scored 55 in a 55-52 shootout in the 2004 Pro Bowl. The AFC and NFC combined for the most total yards in the game's history.

Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall stole the spotlight in the game, catching six passes for 177 yards and four touchdowns to win the 2012 Pro Bowl MVP award. His third touchdown catch was particularly great.

Every quarterback selected to the game — Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Cam Newton, and Andy Dalton — threw for 100 or more yards and two touchdowns. Newton also threw three interceptions, the last of which was returned for the AFC's final touchdown.

For the latest Super Bowl updates, be sure to follow this StoryStream.

The Pro Bowl, Summed Up In A Photo

Pro Bowl 2012 Score Update: AFC Holds 45-35 Lead In Fourth Quarter

In the third quarter of the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl, some exciting football broke out for a bit, largely in spite of itself. Despite the players' best effort to plod through the entire event, the action picked up quite a bit after halftime.

The AFC and NFC teams were tied 28-28 at halftime, but the scoring started quickly as the AFC took the lead on a 37-yard Sebastian Janikowski field goal. A minute later, the third-quarter NFC quarterback, Cam Newton, aired out a 55-yard pass to Steve Smith.

The NFC remained on top, 35-31 until Brandon Marshall caught his third touchdown of the game, from his third passer, Andy Dalton. The 47-yard pass was the definition of a circus catch and put the AFC back on top, 38-35.

Early in the fourth quarter, Vonta Leach rushed in from the goal line to extend the AFC lead.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, stick with SB Nation's NFL hub.

VIDEO: Brandon Marshall Catches Third Pro Bowl Touchdown, Does Something Interesting

The 2012 Pro Bowl has been an exercise in moderate shoving, half-pace scrambling and when you should attempt an onside kick (every other time). Along the way, some teams have scored and some players have made some plays. Occasionally, both of those things happened at the same time.

But late in the third quarter on Sunday, Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall caught his third touchdown of the game, from his third quarterback of the game. Had he made a normal catch, that wouldn't have been as interesting as it sounded. However, he chose to catch the ball like this:

Yes, he missed the ball, kicked the rebound off his foot while flat on his back and caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Andy Dalton to put the AFC on top by a score of 38-35, proving that no matter how rarely, sometimes exciting things happen in the Pro Bowl.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, stick with SB Nation's NFL hub.

Pro Bowl 2012 Halftime Score: Tremendously Consequential Clash Tied At Half, 28-28

If you're one of the nine people on the face of the Earth watching the Pro Bowl and hoping for a close game in Honolulu, the halftime score of the game should be good news: the AFC and NFC all-star teams are tied at 28-28 after two quarters of play.

Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees have piloted the NFC to two touchdowns, while Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers have helped the AFC match that output. Brees connected with a Rodgers teammate, the Packers' Greg Jennings, for one touchdown, while Rivers found his own man, San Diego tight end Antonio Gates, for another.

Defense, as you might imagine, has been perfunctory at best, despite the NFC line's attempts to at least do amusing things. Surely, that will change in the second half, as players risking injury with nothing whatsoever at stake decide to put themselves in harm's way anyway. (That's not actually going to happen.)

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, stick with SB Nation's NFL hub.

A Way To Fix The Pro Bowl

ANIMATED: Jared Allen Does A Monkey Roll

This is what we've been reduced to in the Pro Bowl. Things are happening and touchdowns are being scored, sure, but this was one of the more entertaining moments. Linemen doing monkey rolls to shift pre-snap? Count me in, please.

Here's Jared Allen with the roll and Justin Smith showing off his hops.

Side note: This looks fun, but it really starts to suck when you've got three people going and an angry coach making you do it til you puke.

In the background of the play, you could hear someone exclaim "That's illegal. Throw the flag"

Randy Moss Comes To A Frightening Realization

Pro Bowl 2012 Score Update: Aaron Rodgers And Ben Roethlisberger Trade Touchdowns, Game Tied 14-14 After First Quarter

The 2012 Pro Bowl is underway from Aloha Stadium in Hawaii. After the first quarter of play, the score is tied 14-14 between the AFC and NFC teams.

The game didn't get off to an especially thrilling start, with the players appearing to move at half-speed. One early run by NFC running back LeSean McCoy actually drew boos from the crowd in attendance for its lack of effort.

The NFC team took an early lead on a 10-yard pass from starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Larry Fitzgerald. On the ensuing kickoff, the NFC opted to go for the onside kick.

That recovered kick led to a second touchdown pass from Rodgers to Fitzgerald, this time a 44-yard bomb, to put the NFC up 14-0 less than six minutes into the game.

Just a couple minutes later, the AFC scored on a 34-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger to AJ Green. The score remained 14-7 until the final three minutes of the quarter, when Roethlisberger threw another deep touchdown pass, this time to Brandon Marshall.

For updates on the Pro Bowl and leading up to the Super Bowl, stick with SB Nation's NFL hub.

VIDEO: You Can Stop Watching The Pro Bowl Now

That's it. Just a few minutes into the Pro Bowl and we already have our second "oh, just forget it" moment. The first was this one. The second came on an interception by Clay Matthews, followed by a couple laterals, one of which went the wrong way, giving the offense the ball back. This is the Pro Bowl in a nutshell.

Here's the mistake-filled, odd sequence. We've set it to music which fits the situation.

You're welcome. We can all go home now, because this is pointless.

VIDEO: 2012 Pro Bowl Is Basically A Walkthrough

I don't hold any false illusions about what the Pro Bowl is. There's computer banks on the sidelines, it's in Hawaii and we all know exactly what we're getting into. This is not professional football, but more what you'd see during a semi-competitive game of pickup flag football.

But come on, this is ridiculous. This was an actual play, run at "full speed."

The fans booed during and after the play. If the fans in Hawaii are booing a play, you've done something very wrong. Like, say, running a play that more closely resembles something that'd be run in a Best Western parking lot during a college football walkthrough than something run in an NFL game. It's an exhibition, sure, but at least act like you want to be there.

Now let's remember happier times.

That's how you handle a football game, Pro Bowl or not.

Pro Bowl 2012: Players Will Wear Team-Specific Nike Cleats

The 2012 Pro Bowl will be taking place on Sunday evening from Aloha Stadium in Hawaii. The annual NFL All-Star game will pit AFC and NFC teams against one another for one final football event before Super Bowl XLVI.

Although the players will be wearing unified jerseys (red for AFC, blue for NFC), it appears that each player will be wearing colorful cleats that are specific to the individual player's own team.

Heidi Burgett of Nike PR took to Twitter on Sunday to share a picture of the various cleats. Here's a look:

via @heidiburgett

The individual cleats is a good idea and a neat touch for a game that isn't as conducive to players wearing their own team colors or jerseys as is the All-Star game for, say, baseball. The San Francisco 49ers cleat in particular looks instantly recognizable as the team colors.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, stick with SB Nation's NFL hub.

Pro Bowl 2012: How To Watch Online

The 2012 Pro Bowl kicks off on Sunday evening as the top players for the AFC and NFC battle for bragging rights ... and a bit of cash, too. Those that want to watch the game won't have to be in front of their television sets, however, as NBC will broadcast the game live online.

NBC Sports' SNF All Access website will have the game live online with the following features: high-definition quality, DVR controls, live chats and online-only camera angles and sideline reports, according to the network's website. For fans that are interested in controlling the entire broadcast, watching online might actually be better than watching on the good ol' fashioned television set.

The game will begin at 7 p.m. ET live from Honolulu, Hawaii. The NFC won last year's meeting, 55-41, to take a 21-20 lead in the series matchup.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, stick with SB Nation's NFL hub.

Pro Bowl 2012: Players Thinking About Money

The 2012 Pro Bowl will kick off on Sunday night and, while the outcome in all-star games typically doesn't matter to the casual fan, the NFL has attempted to make sure that the players will play to win. The league will pay $50,000 to each player on the winning team while the losers take home $25,000 as a nice participation bonus.

The players commented on just how important winning is while talking to NFL.com on Saturday.

"I think guys, for the first few quarters, they come out and have a good time," Chargers TE Antonio Gates said Saturday. "But when the fourth quarter arrives, people start thinking ‘Wow, I've been here for a week and I've spent this and all the incidentals.' So another $50,000 seems a lot better than $25,000."

While that money is important to the veterans, young guys like New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham are probably more inclined to play hard for all four quarters as they attempt to take home some extra cash.

"The extra $25,000 wouldn't hurt, especially for a young talent like myself," Graham said. "I don't get paid like the rest of these guys do."

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, stick with SB Nation's NFL hub.

Pro Bowl 2012: Players Display Jerseys In Hawaii

The 2012 Pro Bowl will take place at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii on Sunday, January 29. The annual All-Star game nicely bridges the gap between the final round of playoffs and Super Bowl XLVI, so NFL fans don't have to spend a week without football.

During practices this week, the AFC and NFC players took the time to model the 2012 Pro Bowl uniforms for their respective teams. Since the game takes place in Hawaii and the NFL doesn't for one second want you to forget that, there were the requisite floral leis and hula dancer-esque models, also decked out in the team colors. Cam Newton in particular seemed to be having an especially good time.

In sticking with the long-time traditions of the two conferences, the NFC team will be in blue and the AFC team will be in red. Check out the pictures below to get a look at the uniforms.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, stick with SB Nation's NFL hub.

Pro Bowl 2012: Time, Schedule And More

The 2012 NFL Pro Bowl will take place on Sunday, January 29. The annual football All-Star competition will take place in Aloha Stadium in Hawaii.

The AFC team's starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will square off against the NFC team, led by Aaron Rodgers. On paper, it looks like the NFC would have an advantage in the passing game, with Rodgers and backup quarterbacks Drew Brees and Cam Newton looking to hook up with targets like Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Smith, Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzalez and Greg Jennings. Meanwhile, the AFC running game includes weapons like Maurice Jones-Drew and WIllis McGahee. It's certainly going to be interesting to watch all the different pairings of players that spent the 2011 season going toe-to-toe.

Time: Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM EST on Sunday.

TV: The game will be carried nationally on NBC. Your announcers will be Dan Hicks on play-by-play, Mike Mayock and Doug Flutie on color commentary and Alex Flanagan and Randy Moss as the sideline reporters.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, stick with SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 Pro Bowl AFC Coaches: Gary Kubiak In Charge In Honolulu

When the AFC takes the field for the 2012 Pro Bowl on Sunday, Houston Texans' coach Gary Kubiak will lead the charge. It's not quite like leading a team onto the field during the Super Bowl, but its a decent consolation prize.

Kubiak's Texans made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history this season, finishing 10-6 and winning the AFC South. They beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card Round but succumbed to the Baltimore Ravens in the Regional Round.

Kubiak is 47-49 in six seasons with Houston and the team has finished .500 or better in five of them. Previous to working with the Texans, he was a longtime Denver Broncos assistant and offensive coordinator, not to mention a player on three of their Super Bowl teams.

Kubiak brings Offensive Coordinator Rick Dennison and Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips with him to run the respective units.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, keep it with SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 Pro Bowl NFC Coaches: Packers Coach Mike McCarthy Shall Lead Them

A select number of the NFL's best players will be making a trip to Hawaii to participate in this Sunday's AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. However, it's not just the players who get rewarded for good seasons, some of the league's top coaches get the chance to be there as well.

For the NFC, the Green Bay Packers' coaching staff will have the honor of leading the conference's best players into battle. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy will also have head coach duties on Sunday.

McCarthy has been the head coach for Green Bay since 2006, compiling a 63-33 record. Last year, he led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2011-2012, the Packers' dynamic offense led them to a 15-1 regular season which ended in disappointing fashion, losing at home to the New York Giants in the Divisional Round.

Dom Capers will lead the defense while the offensive coordinator spot is a bit more fluid since Packers' OC Joe Philbin is now Miami Dolphins head coach.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, keep it with SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 Pro Bowl AFC Roster: Ravens-Heavy Squad Heads To Honolulu

A select number of the NFL's best players will be making a trip to Hawaii to participate in this Sunday's AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, though the league's annual all-star game will be lacking some of its star power once again due to a variety of factors.

This will mark the third consecutive year in which the Pro Bowl will be held one week prior to the Super Bowl, thereby removing members of the New England Patriots and New York Giants that were chosen to play in Sunday's exhibition from their conference respective rosters once those teams qualified for the upcoming championship game.

The AFC has been hit particularly hard by the rule, as the Patriots had seven starters and eight players overall invited to Honolulu. That list included such notable names as quarterback Tom Brady, wide receiver Wes Welker and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Following New England's defections, Baltimore had led the AFC corps with eight selections before four Ravens (running back Ray Rice, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and safety Ed Reed) all pulled out shortly after the club's loss to the Patriots in this past Sunday's conference championship. That leaves AFC West champion Denver with a team-high six players, although popular quarterback Tim Tebow was not among those named.

Brady's departure elevates Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger to the starting signal-caller's post for the AFC, which will be coached by Houston's Gary Kubiak, with Rogers first to lead the NFC offense before likely giving way to New Orleans record-setter Drew Brees.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, keep it with SB Nation's NFL hub.

2012 Pro Bowl NFC Roster: Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees Highlight Squad

The NFL's best players will be making a trip to Hawaii to participate in this Sunday's AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. The NFC will field an impressive array of all-stars.

San Francisco's overtime loss to the Giants last weekend may have turned out to be the NFC's gain, as a conference-best eight 49ers had been picked to the initial squad and just two New York players -- quarterback Eli Manning and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul -- had made the list.

San Francisco will ultimately send six representatives to the contest, with running back Frank Gore, cornerback Carlos Rogers and safety Dashon Goldson all withdrawing after citing injuries and veteran long snapper Brian Jennings recently added as a need player. Six Green Bay Packers, headlined by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, will also be on the final NFC roster, with head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff directing the team.

The selected NFC starting defense won't be undergoing a whole lot of changes, with Rogers the lone honoree to bow out of the contest. The 49ers will still have a presence on the unit, however, with disruptive tackle Justin Smith (58 tackles, 7.5 sacks) and inside linebacker Patrick Willis (97 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) each receiving well-deserved citations for their contributions to one of the NFL's stingiest defenses in 2011.

Even without Pierre-Paul, the conference won't be bereft of top-notch pass rushers, as Minnesota end Jared Allen (66 tackles, 1 INT) led the league with 22 sacks and Dallas outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (58 tackles, 19.5 sacks) and Philadelphia end Jason Babin (40 tackles, 18 sacks) finished second and third, respectively, in that category. Rogers will be replaced in the opening lineup by Chicago's Charles Tillman (99 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INT) in the veteran corner's first trip to Honolulu, while 35-year-old Charles Woodson (74 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 INT) garnered his eighth career Pro Bowl nod on the opposite side and joins outside linebacker and Green Bay teammate Clay Matthews (50 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 INT) as a starter.

Aaron Rodgers (4643 passing yards, 45 TD, 6 INT) will the first up out of an absolutely loaded NFC crop of quarterbacks after setting an new NFL single-year standard with a 122.5 passer rating. The prolific Brees (5476 passing yards, 46 TD, 14 INT), meanwhile, shattered Dan Marino's 27-year-old mark for passing yards in his banner 2011 campaign, while the dynamic Newton (4051 passing yards, 21 TD, 17 INT) threw for more yards than any rookie in league history.

That stellar trio won't have the luxury of working with perhaps the best receiver in the game today, however, with Detroit superstar Calvin Johnson declining to attend because of a sore Achilles tendon, though the combo of Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald (80 receptions, 1411 yards, 8 TD) -- the 2009 Pro Bowl MVP -- and Carolina veteran Steve Smith (79 receptions, 1394 yards, 7 TD) alongside New Orleans tight end and first-time selection Jimmy Graham (99 receptions, 1310 yards, 11 TD) ensures there will be more than enough elite targets to go around.

The backfield also possesses two quality pass-catchers in Philadelphia first-timer LeSean McCoy (1309 rushing yards, 48 receptions, 20 total TD) and Chicago's Matt Forte (997 rushing yards, 52 receptions, 4 total TD), slated to participate despite missing the final four weeks of the regular season with a sprained knee. Graham is one of three Saints chosen as starters, along with the stout guard tandem of Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, keep it with SB Nation's NFL hub.

PHOTO: Cam Newton Is Enjoying Hawaii