Pro Bowl : NFC Mistake-Prone in 10-6 Loss

The National Football Conference had its chances, but due in part to the mistakes of Washington Redskins players, the American Football Conference held on Sunday to win the Pro Bowl, 10-6, before a crowd of 50,101 at Aloha Stadium.

The AFC, which held a 10-0 halftime lead, won for only the third time in the last 10 Pro Bowls. It was the first time ever that the NFC did not score a touchdown.

The Raiders’ Todd Christensen caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Denver Bronco quarterback John Elway at the end of the first quarter to give the AFC all the points it needed.

New England Patriot kicker Tony Franklin added a 26-yard field goal late in the first half, and New Orleans kicker Morten Andersen had field goals of 38 and 19 yards in the second half.

It was a mistake-riddled game for the NFC.

The NFC had a one-yard touchdown run by the Rams’ Eric Dickerson with 8:15 remaining in the game called back because of an illegal motion penalty on Redskins guard Russ Grimm.

On the following play, Kansas City safety Lloyd Burruss intercepted Redskins quarterback Jay Schroeder’s pass in the end zone, intended for Washington wide receiver Art Monk.

“It was the same old thing, mistakes,” said Washington Coach Joe Gibbs, who coached the NFC. “We had too many things to overcome. You name it, it just about happened to us.”

The NFC got the ball back two more times, the last time with 80 yards to go and 19 seconds left. The game ended with Schroeder fumbling the ball after being hit while scrambling as time ran out.

The AFC scored the only touchdown when St. Louis returner Vai Sikahema fumbled a punt at the NFC 16-yard line with three minutes left in the first quarter. Sikahema, who went to high school here and still is a local hero, dropped the ball as it hit his chest. It bounced into the arms of Seattle linebacker Fredd Young.

Elway then led the AFC to the score, a 10-yard pass to Christensen as the quarter ended. Elway took the AFC to the NFC five-yard line with a nine-yard scramble, then, after Seattle wide receiver Steve Largent lost five yards on a reverse, Elway threw the touchdown.

Actually, Christensen appeared to be stopped by Ronnie Lott, Darrell Green and Joey Browner at the one, but reached across the goal line with the ball and received a touchdown signal from the sympathetic officials.

In the second quarter, led by Schroeder, the NFC moved from its 38 to the AFC seven, due in large part to a 27-yard reception by New York Giants tight end Mark Bavaro.

But, on first down, Chicago running back Walter Payton couldn’t control a handoff from Schroeder and fumbled into the line. Seattle defensive end Jacob Green recovered the fumble, which officially was credited to Schroeder, at the five.

Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Boomer Esiason led the AFC to its 40 before Washington defensive end Dexter Manley sacked him for a 12-yard loss.

The following play, Sikahema bobbled Rohn Stark’s punt but hung onto it. He then muffed the next one with 3:50 left in the half, giving the AFC the ball at the AFC 44. Esiason led his team to the NFC nine before Franklin kicked a 26-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead with 45 seconds remaining in the half. Franklin then had a 48-yard attempt blocked by Chicago linebacker Wilber Marshall as the half ended.

The play before Sikahema’s second fumble, Manley caught Esiason for a 17-yard loss back to the AFC one-yard line. Philadelphia defensive end Reggie White, playing on the opposite end of the line from Manley, also had two sacks. Manley, with his 29 yards in sacks, was the NFC’s second-leading ground gainer in the half. Bavaro was first with 35 yards on two catches.

The NFC finally scored in the second half on a 38-yard field goal by Andersen with 7:38 left in the third quarter. Payton, who earlier threw a halfback option pass into the first row of seats, caught a seven-yard pass from Minnesota’s Tommy Kramer, then ran nine yards to the AFC 40. Giant running back Joe Morris carried for eight yards, then five more before Redskin wide receiver Gary Clark caught a seven-yard pass to the 20.

Four plays and four penalties later, Andersen kicked his field goal, and the AFC led, 10-3.

On its second drive of the half, the NFC drove to a 19-yard field goal by Andersen with 14:51 left in the game to cut the AFC lead to 10-6. The NFC had a first down at the AFC 5, but could gain only three yards before Andersen came in.