HONOLULU — Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 176 yards and a Pro Bowl-record four touchdowns, and the AFC used a second-half surge to beat the NFC 59-41 on Sunday.
The Miami Dolphins wide receiver had a touchdown catch in each quarter, including an early 74-yarder and a 3-yarder in the fourth, in a game filled with highlight-reel catches. He was selected the game’s MVP.
The 59 points by the AFC set a Pro Bowl mark, and the 100 points scored by the two teams combined were the second highest, a touchdown shy of the 107 scored in 2004.
It was clear from the start it was Marshall’s day. He hauled in a deflected, go-ahead 47-yard TD pass from Andy Dalton, while on his back, to give the AFC a 38-35 lead late in the third quarter. It was Marshall’s third TD catch of the game, tying Jimmy Smith’s Pro Bowl record set in 2004.
Marshall, making his third Pro Bowl appearance, then caught a 3-yard TD pass from Dalton that gave the AFC a 52-35 lead with 8:25 left and put the game away.
The Broncos’ Von Miller led the AFC defense in his first appearance at the Pro Bowl. The rookie had eight tackles, including a sack. Teammate Brian Dawkins registered three tackles, while Elvis Dumervil did not net a tackle in the all-star game. Cornerback Champ Bailey, in his 11th Pro Bowl, had three tackles and a fumble recovery.
Denver running back Willis McGahee rushed for 23 yards on four carries. Also representing the Broncos was left tackle Ryan Clady.
The game featured 36 first-timers, including rookie quarterbacks Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers and Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals, who replaced Super Bowl quarterbacks Eli Manning and Tom Brady. Their selection made this Pro Bowl the first to feature two rookie QBs.
Newton finished 9-of-27 for 186 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Dalton, meanwhile, was 7-of-9 for 99 yards and two TDs.
On his first series, Newton overthrew a wide-open Tony Gonzalez over the middle, with the ball sailing into Eric Weddle’s hands. The San Diego Chargers safety popped up to his feet and returned it 63 yards to the NFC 23, leading to a 37-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski, which gave the AFC its first lead at 31-28.
Newton recovered on the next series, airing out a 55-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Panthers teammate Steve Smith, making it 34-31. But he was intercepted again on the next series.
With the Pro Bowlers unable to get out of third gear — particularly on the offensive and defensive lines — and hitting each other as though they were having a pillow fight, the Pro Bowl featured some good, bad and real ugly — sometimes on the same play. For example, Aaron Rodgers caught a pass from himself. His throw was deflected at the line and he leaped to catch the ball and backpedaled for a 15-yard loss.
