AFC rallies to win Pro Bowl

Delanie Walker held the ball in the end zone and waited for his teammates to celebrate.

They came from every direction: Left, right and even the bench.

The Tennessee Titans tight end caught two touchdown passes, including an 18-yarder with 1:31 remaining , and the AFC beat the NFC 24-23 in a rain-soaked Pro Bowl on Sunday.

Teammates mobbed him. Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown, Baltimore safety Eric Weddle, Jacksonville cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin were among those who left the sideline to congratulate Walker.

“That’s as real as it gets in football,” Oakland quarterback Derek Carr said.

“You always want to win, especially with money on the line.”

The winning team got $64,000 each, double the losing team’s share.

“You’ve got guys on the sidelines saying, ‘I need that money,’” Carr said.

Carr completed 11 of 15 passes for 115 yards and connected with Walker on a skinny post for the winning score.

Denver’s Von Miller sealed the victory when he caused and recovered a fumble by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff. Miller posed problems all afternoon for the NFC.

“I go all out all the time,” Miller said.

Although the game was more two-hand touch than hardnosed football, there were plenty of defensive gems.

Arizona’s Patrick Peterson had two interceptions. Minnesota’s Harrison Smith returned a pick for a score. And two players took exception to one aggressive takedown. Tennessee left tackle Taylor Lewan and Oakland guard Kelechi Osemele had words for New Orleans defensive end Cameron Jordan after he drilled Indianapolis tight end Jack Doyle.

None of those plays compared to Miller’s gameclinching strip-sack.

“I knew Von was going to do it,” Broncos teammate Aqib Talib said.

“When it’s clutch time, crunch time, that’s what he does. We needed a play, and Von went and did what he does.”

The AFC overcame a 17point halftime deficit and four turnovers to win the annual allstar game.