The only bad news for Bears fans watching Sunday night’s Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium was that the NFC defense captained by linebacker Brian Urlacher provided less resistance than cheap sun block before pulling out a wacky 55-52 victory over the AFC.
The good news? The more the AFC scored, the more opportunity knocked for Bears kickoff-return man Jerry Azumah.
Azumah is Chicago’s secret no more.
“I’m glad about that, and I want to be known around the league as a threat,” he said.
Surely that will be the case after Azumah made his Pro Bowl debut memorable with seven returns for 228 yards, displaying the dazzling open-field ability that made him the most exciting Bear last season. He had three returns that covered 35 yards or more, including a 60-yarder in the fourth quarter that set up an NFC touchdown.
“`Zoom’ is the man,” Urlacher said. “We all know about him, and now everybody else does too.”
During a stint in the secondary, Azumah added a 36-yard return on a fumble caused by the Redskins’ LaVar Arrington.
“This is what it’s all about–playing the best against the best,” Azumah said.
Every point counted in a defense-deficient affair that set a Pro Bowl record for total scoring. It was decided by two fourth-quarter interceptions off Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Detroit’s Dre’ Bly returned one 32 yards for a touchdown with 4:50 left, and 70 seconds later, Viking Corey Chavous grabbed one for 39 yards to set up Shaun Alexander’s 2-yard scoring plunge on the next play for a 55-45 lead.
An AFC rally in the final minute fell short when Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt’s 51-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right on the game’s final play.
Until the final minutes, the 25th Pro Bowl in Hawaii generated little buzz beyond the island. But it did provide a paradise for fans who love offense.
The AFC scored on its first play when Titans QB Steve McNair hit Bengals receiver Chad Johnson on a crossing route after Eagles cornerback Troy Vincent fell down. The 90-yard TD catch was the second longest in Pro Bowl history.
The NFC, using a stronger running game, kept it close until Manning sliced up its secondary like a papaya. Manning entered late in the first quarter with the AFC up 14-10 and walked into the locker room at halftime having built a 31-13 lead.
Manning finished the first half 11-for-22 for 203 yards and a quarterback rating of 112.5, but his two interceptions are what will mark this Pro Bowl outing.
The NFC began its second-half rally behind a pair of Rams. Quarterback Marc Bulger, the game’s MVP, found receiver Torry Holt for a 12-yard TD with 8:08 left in the third quarter–Bulger’s first of a record four TD passes–to cut the lead to 38-20.
Urlacher missed a tackle at the line of scrimmage on Ravens running back Jamal Lewis’ 22-yard TD run in the third quarter and finished the game without an official tackle.
“We got behind early like we always do,” Urlacher said. “Then we started making some plays and having fun.”
