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Rackers racks em up three times for NFC win
By Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin Febraury 13, 2006 |
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The NFC finally broke a three-year losing streak in the 2006 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu with a 23-17 victory over the AFC on Sunday. The key feature of the game was NFC field goal kicker Neil Rackers of the Arizona Cardinals booting two field goals in the fourth quarter to clinch the victory for the NFC. The AFC took control of the game in the first quarter, with QB Payton Manning opened the scoring with a 16 yard touchdown pass to Chris Chambers to give the AFC a 7-0 lead. The NFC scored in the second quarter at 8:27, when Rackers was successful with a 32 yard field goal to make the score 7-3 in favor of the AFC. The AFC struck right back when Shayne Graham hit a 31-yard field goal to put the AFC up by seven, 10-3 at 3:30 left in the second quarter. With 14 seconds left in the half, the NFC's Michael Vick threw to Alge Crumpler for a 14-yard touchdown to tie up the ball game 10-10. In the third quarter, NFC’s Derrick Brooks intercepted AFC’S Trent Green’s pass for a 59 yard return, giving the NFC a 17-10 lead in the game at 5:54. Green made amends for the AFC at 12:47 left in the fourth quarter, when he kept the ball on a one yard run up the middle for six. Shayne Graham kicked a PAT to tie the game a 17-17. At this point, the Pro Bowl was a game. Not a blowouts like in past years with the high scoring sand lot type games, when players on defense would not make much of a regular season type effort and actually stop ball carriers. This game was very different as both teams made a full out effort and when the score was tied both defenses played as if they were going for a pot of gold. Offensively for the NFC, the game was going to be determined by field goals, as the NFC’s Rackers was to have two more field goals, a 22 yarder at 7:00 left in the 4th quarter, which would be the game winner, and another 20 yarder at 1:13 left in the 4th to make the final score 23-17 NFC. "It all goes to the players," said NFC head coach John Fox. NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said it was a full out effort on both sides, as if they were playing for something, "all those guys were trying to win the MVP, somebody must have told them they had a shot on defense, and they were going for it." said Hasselbeck. JC and Kenny G's footnotes: The Dan McGuire MVP Pro Bowl award went to Brooks for his 59-yard pick off Green in the third quarter. "I don't think Trent Green ever saw me. Once I caught it, I was kind of cruising down. Saw a cut back lane, and turned it on, I was very honored and thankful to get into the end zone for a touchdown." Brooks said. The Seahawks and NFC's wide out Shaun Alexander was out of action with an injured foot. Alexander who suited up for the game was on the bench Sunday. Alexander missed part of a NFC playoff game due to a concussion. AFC rushing leader Larry Johnson carried for 33 yards and the NFC's Tiki Barber matched Johnson with 33 yards for the day, on 11 carries. The sell out crowd at Aloha Stadium was the Pro Bowl's 26th sell out in 27 games in Honolulu, which proves that the success of the ticket sale of the game is never tiring and the success of the Pro Bowl in Honolulu is strong. Once upon a time, just before this current contract between the NFL and the City of Honolulu there was consideration to move the Pro Bowl to Orlando. That consideration was never implemented, and Honolulu and the NFL have a continuing contract keeping the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Besides any excuse to come to Hawaii is something that will bring fans into Honolulu. It's also Honolulu's busiest time of the year bar none when the Pro Bowl comes. Sunday's game drew 50,190. Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin cover the NFL and co-host Sportstalk on 1430 KVVN San Jose and 1110 KLIB Sacramento. |
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