Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns in his Pro Bowl debut on Sunday.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers led the NFC with 197 yards passing and two touchdown passes in his Pro Bowl debut, but the NFC fell to the AFC 41-34 on Sunday in Miami.
Rodgers, who started for the NFC in his first Pro Bowl appearance, completed 15-of-19 passes (78.9 percent) for a game-high 197 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 145.0 passer rating. He led the offense for the first three drives and helped the NFC put up points on each one of them.
On the NFC's first possession, Rodgers found 49ers tight end Vernon Davis on a play-action pass to the AFC's 33-yard line for a 36-yard gain. The pass helped set up a 47-yard field goal from Eagles kicker David Akers to narrow the AFC's lead to 7-3.
With the NFC trailing 14-3 the next time he took the field, Rodgers pump faked before finding Giants wide receiver Steve Smith deep down the field for a 48-yard touchdown.
After the NFC defense forced a three-and-out from the AFC, Rodgers led the offense on an 11-play, 78-yard scoring drive. He started things off with a 33-yard completion to Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, and later converted a 4th-and-7 at the AFC's 42 with a 12-yard pass to Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Rodgers finished things off by connecting with fellow University of California alum Jackson again on a 7-yard screen for a touchdown and a 17-14 lead.
Packers free safety Nick Collins also started for the NFC and was credited with four tackles (three solo). He also saw action on special teams.
Packers rookie outside linebacker Clay Matthews saw significant action as a reserve and recorded a solo tackle on defense as well as a stop on special teams.
For the first time, the Pro Bowl was held prior to the Super Bowl, and Sunday night's game was the first time since 1980 that the contest was played somewhere other than Honolulu. The crowd of 70,697 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami was the largest for a Pro Bowl since 1959 in Los Angeles.
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub earned MVP honors for the game, completing 13-of-17 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
Woodson honored
Cornerback Charles Woodson, who was selected to the Pro Bowl but didn't play due to an injury, was named to the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team on Sunday.
Four cornerbacks were selected for the team, with Woodson being joined by Ronde Barber, Champ Bailey and Ty Law.
Woodson was named to four Pro Bowls in the decade, and was selected as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press in 2009, becoming the first cornerback since Deion Sanders in 1994 to earn the honor.
Woodson, who came to the Packers as a free agent in 2006, is second in the NFL since '06 with 27 interceptions over that span, trailing only Philadelphia's Asante Samuel (29). His six interception returns for touchdowns since 2006 lead the NFL. In 2009, Woodson became the first player in NFL history (since sacks became an official statistic in 1982) to post seven interceptions and two sacks in back-to-back seasons (2008-09).
The NFL All-Decade teams are chosen every 10 years by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee members. The 2000s team marks the ninth All-Decade team to be selected in NFL history.
The last Packers cornerback to be selected to an NFL All-Decade team was Herb Adderley (1961-69) for the 1960s.
Saints safety Darren Sharper, who played for Green Bay from 1997-2004 and earned Pro Bowl recognition with the Packers in 2000 and 2002, was one of four safeties selected to the team.
To see the full All-Decade team for the 2000s, click here.
