The 2005 Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2004 season. The game was played February 13, 2005, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was AFC 38 – NFC 27. The most valuable player was Peyton Manning of the Colts. The game holds the record as the latest Pro Bowl played during the calendar year, and formerly the latest NFL game; this record was subsequently tied when Super Bowl LVI was played on February 13, 2022.
Game summary
The game started off slowly. The AFC was forced to punt away its first possession, and the NFC missed a field goal from 43 yards out. Two plays later, the AFC opened up scoring with a 62-yard pass from Peyton Manning to his Indianapolis Colts teammate, Marvin Harrison. The NFC drove back quickly, but Donovan McNabb's pass was intercepted by Joey Porter. Manning then hooked up with Hines Ward for a 41-yard score, and the AFC led 14–0. The NFC came back with a time consuming drive that spanned the end of the first quarter to the beginning of the second, and ended with a 12-yard run by Brian Westbrook to bring the NFC within 7. However, David Akers' attempted onside kick would prove costly, as Ward recovered the kick and returned it 39 yards for a score, the first ever kickoff return for a touchdown in Pro Bowl history. Daunte Culpepper attempted to bring the NFC back, but was intercepted by Takeo Spikes. That interception led to another Manning touchdown, this time a 12-yard pass to Antonio Gates which gave the AFC a comfortable 28–7 lead. The NFC once again came down the field, led by Culpepper, but the drive was not without problems. On the second play, Torry Holt caught a pass but was hit by Tory James, causing a fumble. John Lynch recovered the fumble for the AFC, but the play was negated after a penalty on Marcus Stroud. Akers ended up kicking a 33-yard field goal to bring the score to 28–10, which is how the first half ended.
The third quarter was all NFC, who started off the half by scoring within the first 3 minutes, when Michael Vick hit Holt with a 27-yard pass to make the score 28–17. They later picked off Tom Brady when Lito Sheppard intercepted a pass on the NFC 31. The drive ended when Vick ran it in from 3 yards out, making the score 28–24. Adam Vinatieri and Akers then traded field goals before LaDainian Tomlinson added a rushing touchdown to make the score 38–27. The NFC made one final drive late in the game, but Vick was intercepted (the third pick of the game for the AFC) by Nate Clements, and Drew Brees kneeled to end the game. Manning, whose 3 passing TDs led the AFC's offense, won the Most Valuable Player award while Vick was called the greatest of all time by the announcers.
Scoring Summary
- AFC – TD Marvin Harrison 62 yd pass from Peyton Manning (Adam Vinatieri kick) – 8:44 1st
- AFC – TD Hines Ward 41 yd pass from Peyton Manning (Vinatieri kick) – 2:57 1st
- NFC – TD Brian Westbrook 12 yd run (David Akers kick) – 12:15 2nd
- AFC – TD Hines Ward 39 yd kickoff return (Vinatieri kick) – 12:01 2nd
- AFC – TD Antonio Gates 12 yd pass from Peyton Manning (Vinatieri kick) – 6:01 2nd
- NFC – FG David Akers 33 yd – 1:45 2nd
- NFC – TD Torry Holt 27 yd pass from Michael Vick (Akers kick) – 11:19 3rd
- NFC – TD Michael Vick 3 yd run (Akers kick) – 4:10 3rd
- AFC – FG Adam Vinatieri 44 yd – 14:19 4th
- NFC – FG David Akers 29 yd – 9:07 4th
- AFC – TD LaDainian Tomlinson 4 yd run (Vinatieri kick) – 5:56 4th
AFC roster
Offense
{| class="wikitable" width=50% style="text-align:center;"
!width=14%|Position
!width=30%|Starter(s)
!width=30%|Reserve(s)
!width=30%|Alternate(s)
|-
|align=center|Quarterback
| Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
| Tom Brady, New England<br/> Drew Brees, San Diego
|
|-
|align=center|Running back
| Curtis Martin, N.Y. Jets
| LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego<br/> Edgerrin James, Indianapolis
| Corey Dillon, New England<br/> Rudi Johnson, Cincinnati<br/> Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh
|-
|align=center|Fullback
| Tony Richardson, Kansas City
|
|
|-
|align=center|Wide receiver
| Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis<br/> Chad Johnson, Cincinnati
| Andre Johnson, Houston<br/> Hines Ward, Pittsburgh
|
|-
|align=center|Tight end
| Antonio Gates, San Diego
| Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City
|
|-
|align=center|Offensive tackle
| Jonathan Ogden, Baltimore<br/> Willie Anderson, Cincinnati
| Tarik Glenn, Indianapolis
| Willie Roaf, Kansas City<br/> Marvel Smith, Pittsburgh
|-
|align=center|Offensive guard
| Alan Faneca, Pittsburgh<br/> Will Shields, Kansas City
| Brian Waters, Kansas City
|
|-
|align=center|Center
| Kevin Mawae, N.Y. Jets
| Jeff Hartings, Pittsburgh
|
|}
Source
Defense
{| class="wikitable" width=50% style="text-align:center;"
!width=17%|Position
!width=30%|Starter(s)
!width=30%|Reserve(s)
!width=30%|Alternate(s)
|-
|align=center|Defensive end
| Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis<br/> Jason Taylor, Miami
| John Abraham, N.Y. Jets
| Aaron Smith, Pittsburgh
|-
|align=center|Defensive tackle
| Sam Adams, Buffalo<br/> Marcus Stroud, Jacksonville
| Richard Seymour, New England
| John Henderson, Jacksonville
|-
|align=center|Outside linebacker
| Takeo Spikes, Buffalo<br/> Terrell Suggs, Baltimore
| Joey Porter, Pittsburgh
|
|-
|align=center|Inside linebacker
| James Farrior, Pittsburgh
| Ray Lewis, Baltimore
| Tedy Bruschi, New England
|-
|align=center|Cornerback
| Champ Bailey, Denver<br/> Tory James, Cincinnati
| Chris McAlister, Baltimore
Patrick Surtain, Miami
| Nate Clements, Buffalo
|-
|align=center|Free safety
| John Lynch, Denver
|
|
|-
|align=center|Strong safety
| Ed Reed, Baltimore
| Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh
|
|}
Special teams
{| class="wikitable" style="width:45%" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="width:20%;"|Position:
! style="width:40%;"|Player:
! style="width:40%;"|Alternate:
|-
|align=center|Punter
| Shane Lechler, Oakland
|
|-
|align=center|Placekicker
| Adam Vinatieri, New England
|
|-
|align=center|Kick returner
| Terrence McGee, Buffalo
|
|-
|align=center|Special teamer
| Larry Izzo, New England
|
|-
|align=center|Long snapper
| Kendall Gammon, Kansas City
|
|}
Source