In its new role as a warmup to the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl became a series of wind sprints. Long gains were the rule and hard hitting the exception as the AFC beat the NFC tonight in Miami, 41-34. Light showers fell but uniforms remained mostly spotless, with more pushing and shoving than tackling. Game MVP Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans threw for 189 yards and two AFC scores.
"This is a game you watch as a kid and you hope to be able to play in," Schaub said. From the standpoint of ticket sales, this year's new venue and date were successes. The crowd of 70,697 was the largest for a Pro Bowl since 1959 in Los Angeles. Spectators included Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and other Pro Bowl players from the Super Bowl teams. Manning and the Colts will face Brees and the Saints on the same field next Sunday.
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