AFC wins Pro Bowl on late TD catch
ORLANDO, Fla. — Tennessee’s Delanie Walker caught an 18-yard touchdown pass, and Denver’s Von Miller forced a fumble in the final minute Sunday to help the AFC upend the NFC 24-23 in the Pro Bowl.
Oakland’s Derek Carr found Walker over the middle for the go-ahead score with 1 minute, 31 seconds to play at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
“It feels good that the coaches dialed it up and had a lot of trust in me, but it was a team effort,” said Walker, the game’s offensive MVP. “I couldn’t have gotten it done without the team. We fought deep and got the W, and that’s all that matters.”
Miller forced Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff to fumble four plays later, then recovered the loose ball, to cement the AFC’s rally after trailing 20-3 at halftime.
The game was played under heavy rain in the first half and again during the early portion of the fourth quarter. An NFL representative said 51,019 tickets were distributed.
Walker, who caught four passes for 29 yards and two touchdowns, also reached the end zone on a 4-yard reception from Kansas City’s Alex Smith in the third quarter to cut the NFC’s lead to 20-10.
Carr and Smith combined to throw for 246 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions on 18 of 25 attempts.
Miami’s Jarvis Landry caught five passes for 78 yards. Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph led the NFC with seven receptions for 70 yards.
Walker said the AFC, which won 20-13 in Orlando last year, remained confident despite the lopsided first half. The AFC leads the overall series 23-22.
“It’s the Pro Bowl; anything can happen,” Walker said. “And that’s what we were thinking the whole time.”
The AFC got within three points on its second possession of the second half after Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward intercepted Seattle’s Russell Wilson. Hayward pitched the ball to Miami’s Reshad
Jones, who then lateraled it to Jacksonville’s Jalen Ramsey for a return of 23 yards.
Carr connected with Indianapolis receiver T.Y. Hilton through double coverage for a gain of 39 yards four plays later, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run up the middle by Buffalo’s LeSean McCoy.
Hilton also hauled in a 44-yard pass from Smith on a scoring drive and finished with four catches for 98 yards.
Carolina’s Graham Gano, who made field goals of 43 and 40 yards in the first half, extended the NFC’s lead to 23-17 on a 38-yard kick in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
Arizona’s Patrick Peterson intercepted Carr on a deep throw with nine minutes to play. Peterson, who also picked off Smith with less than two minutes to play in the first half, tied a record — set by eight other players — with two interceptions in a Pro Bowl. San Diego’s Antonio Cromartie was the last to do it in 2008.
The NFC turned the ball over on downs from there, leading to Walker’s decisive TD and Miller’s game-sealing defensive play. Miller was the Pro Bowl’s defensive MVP. “This is another game for me. I hate losing,” said Miller, who finished with three tackles. “I hate being the second one off the red light. I hate being the second one to class. I hate being the second one to the facility. I always like to be first, and when you come out here, you want to win.
“It doesn’t always happen like that, but we got the win today.”