PRO FOOTBALL PRO BOWL : Struggling AFC Needs Victory to Lessen Sting of Super Bowl

The AFC, suffering through a string of Super Bowl humiliations, will try to regain some respect in the NFL’s other bowl game--the Pro Bowl.

The AFC, loser of six consecutive Super Bowl games by a total score of 240-82 but winner of three of the past five Pro Bowl games, takes on the NFC today at Aloha Stadium. Kickoff is 5 p.m. PST.

“It would be nice to win this one and finish up the season on a good note,” said Denver safety Dennis Smith, whose team lost, 55-10, to San Francisco in the Super Bowl a week ago.

Although most of football’s best players will be in the game, some of the top names will be absent, particularly at quarterback.

San Francisco’s Joe Montana, Denver’s John Elway and Cincinnati’s Boomer Esiason all are missing the game because of injuries.

Don Majkowski of Green Bay also didn’t make it, listing personal reasons.

Montana and Esiason were voted as the starters for the NFC and the AFC; Majkowski was the No. 2 quarterback for the NFC and Elway was to replace Esiason, who withdrew earlier.

Warren Moon of Houston, the AFC starter, is left as the only quarterback voted into the Pro Bowl who actually will play. Mark Rypien of Washington was a late substitute for the NFC and Dave Krieg of Seattle was named to fill in for the AFC.

Some players showed up for the game despite ailments, including running back Roger Craig and safety Ronnie Lott of the 49ers.

The contest marks the 20th year for the AFC-NFC all-star format, which began in 1971 after the merger of the NFL with the American Football League. The NFC leads the series 11-8.