Gannon Maximizes His Time

Rich Gannon got a lot accomplished in a short time at Sunday’s Pro Bowl.

Still recovering from a separated left shoulder that limited him to the game’s first two series, Gannon passed for 160 yards and two touchdowns to get the AFC off to a superb start in a 38-17 victory over the NFC.

It was enough to earn player-of-the-game honors for the 35-year-old veteran playing in his second consecutive Pro Bowl after languishing as a backup for most of his first 11 NFL seasons.

Afterward, the man who led the Oakland Raiders to their best season in 10 years credited his AFC teammates.

“I was trying to put the ball in these guys’ hands and let them make the plays,” Gannon said. “These guys are incredible, you feel like you’re driving a Ferrari. I feel like a kid in a candy store today, it’s just amazing.”

By winning for the fourth time in the last five Pro Bowls, the AFC trimmed the NFC’s lead to 16-15 since the game went to its present format in 1971.

The AFC scored the first three times it had the ball on Gannon’s two scoring passes and a 29-yard field goal by Baltimore Raven kicker Matt Stover, and led by at least two touchdowns the rest of the way.

Less than two minutes into the second quarter, the AFC had 14 first downs and 231 yards of total offense to no first downs and six yards for the NFC.

Gannon was playing for the first time since Oakland’s 16-3 loss to Baltimore on Jan. 14 in the AFC championship game, when he separated his non-throwing shoulder on a hit by Tony Siragusa. The quarterback completed his first eight passes and was 12 of 14 before being replaced by Peyton Manning, who also threw two touchdown passes.

“It’s OK, and getting better,” Gannon said of his shoulder. “It’s still not 100% healthy, but I was able to get out of there today without getting slammed. So that’s important.”

Raider Coach Jon Gruden, who coached the AFC, said he wasn’t about to take any chances with his quarterback.

“The guy had a serious injury, he rehabilitated it extremely hard,” Gruden said. “He wanted to be here and he wanted to play.”

Gannon capped an 87-yard, nine-play drive after the opening kickoff by throwing an eight-yard scoring pass to Tony Gonzalez, who had six receptions for 108 yards--all in the first half.

After a punt, Gannon directed his team 90 yards in 10 plays, capping the drive with a 16-yard scoring pass to Marvin Harrison, who had eight catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

“He was putting the ball in the perfect spot for all of us,” Gonzalez said. “Me and Rich played together for two years [in Kansas City], so it’s kind of old hat for us. He knows my moves, I know his moves, so it makes it a lot easier.”

Said NFC Coach Dennis Green: “Gannon really worked the tight end.”

Martin Gramatica kicked a 48-yard field goal early in the second quarter to cut the AFC’s lead to 17-3. The AFC took a three-touchdown lead on a two-yard pass from Manning to Jimmy Smith with 54 seconds left in the half.

Donovan McNabb started the third quarter by completing three passes for 58 yards, including a 17-yarder to Terrell Owens for the NFC’s first touchdown.

The NFC then tried an onside kick, but it didn’t work, and Manning, who completed 16 of 22 passes for 150 yards, threw a 24-yard scoring pass to Indianapolis teammate Harrison for a 31-10 lead.

Daunte Culpepper, who completed only two of nine passes for 11 yards with one interception in the first half, threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Torry Holt with 3:22 left in the third quarter to draw the NFC within 14 points.

The game was played before 50,128 at Aloha Stadium, the 22nd consecutive sellout since the game moved to Honolulu in 1979.