The 2008 Pro Bowl was the National Football League's all-star game for the 2007 season. It was played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 10, 2008. The game was televised in the United States by Fox and began shortly after 11:40am local time (4:40pm EST) following Pole Qualifying for 2008 Daytona 500. The NFC won, 42–30, despite a 17-point first half AFC lead. NFC running back Adrian Peterson rushed 16 times for 129 yards and was named the game's MVP, winning a Cadillac CTS in recognition of his efforts.
The starting rosters for the game were released on December 18, 2007, with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady starting for the AFC and the Green Bay Packers' Brett Favre for the NFC. However, Brett Favre withdrew due to an ankle injury. Notable Pro Bowl selections included the late Sean Taylor. The Dallas Cowboys had a record thirteen players named to the Pro Bowl roster, while five teams, including all four members of the NFC South, had no players initially named (Jeff Garcia of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was later chosen as a replacement quarterback for Brett Favre.) This was the first occasion since their 1–15 1980 season that the New Orleans Saints had no player make the Pro Bowl. The AFC was coached by Norv Turner of the San Diego Chargers staff, while Mike McCarthy and the staff of the Green Bay Packers coached the NFC. Three Washington Redskins players (Chris Cooley, Chris Samuels and Ethan Albright) wore #21 in memory of Taylor, their deceased teammate. The game featured 41 players appearing in their first Pro Bowl (out of 86 total players), the most in eight years. In addition, the NFC played their first defensive play with only ten players on the field, lacking a free safety, in Taylor's honor.
On February 4, 2008, Brady, Patriots receiver Randy Moss, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, and Chargers defensive lineman Jamal Williams decided to pull out of the 2008 Pro Bowl. Brady was replaced by Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, Moss was replaced by Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson, Gates was replaced by Browns tight end Kellen Winslow, and Williams was replaced by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Casey Hampton.
The game was the most watched Pro Bowl since 2000, pulling in a Nielsen rating of 6.3 and a 12 share. It also marked the first ever Pro Bowl to be televised by Fox. The 2008 Pro Bowl also marked the fewest players represented by a Super Bowl winning team, with Osi Umenyiora being the lone representative of the New York Giants, winners of Super Bowl XLII.
Scoring summary 1st Quarter AFC – Lorenzo Neal 1-yard run (Rob Bironas kick), 10:59. AFC 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 4:01. NFC – Larry Fitzgerald 6-yard pass from Tony Romo (Nick Folk kick), 7:08. Tied 7–7. Drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 3:51. AFC – T.J. Houshmandzadeh 16-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Rob Bironas kick), 2:42. AFC 14–7. Drive: 9 plays, 58 yards, 4:26. AFC – Rob Bironas 33-yard FG, 0:48. AFC 17–7. Drive: 5 plays, 14 yards, 1:41.
2nd Quarter AFC – T.J. Houshmandzadeh 1-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Rob Bironas kick), 12:08. AFC 24–7. Drive: 4 plays, 29 yards, 1:48. NFC – Terrell Owens 6-yard pass from Tony Romo (Nick Folk kick), 7:58. AFC 24–14. Drive: 8 plays, 51 yards, 4:10. AFC – Rob Bironas 48-yard FG, 3:30. AFC 27–14. Drive: 9 plays, 51 yards, 4:28. NFC – Chris Cooley 17-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck (Nick Folk kick), 0:28. AFC 27–21. Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards, 3:02. 3rd Quarter NFC – Adrian Peterson 17-yard run (Nick Folk kick), 9:49. NFC 28–27. Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 5:11. AFC – Rob Bironas 28-yard FG, 6:58. AFC 30–28. Drive: 6 plays, 56 yards, 2:51. 4th Quarter NFC – Terrell Owens 6-yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Nick Folk kick), 12:29. NFC 35–30. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 5:46. NFC – Adrian Peterson 6-yard run (Nick Folk kick), 2:43. NFC 42–30. Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 5:21.
AFC roster
Offense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Quarterback Tom Brady, New England Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Derek Anderson, ClevelandRunning back LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Willie Parker, Pittsburgh Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Willis McGahee, BaltimoreFullback Lorenzo Neal, San DiegoWide receiver Randy Moss, New England Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Braylon Edwards, Cleveland T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Chad Johnson, CincinnatiTight end Antonio Gates, San Diego Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Kellen Winslow II, ClevelandOffensive tackle Matt Light, New England Jason Peters, Buffalo Jonathan Ogden, Baltimore Joe Thomas, Cleveland Marcus McNeill, San Diego Offensive guard Alan Faneca, Pittsburgh Logan Mankins, New England Kris Dielman, San DiegoCenter Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis Dan Koppen, New England
Defense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Defensive end Jared Allen, Kansas City Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tennessee Jason Taylor, Miami Aaron Schobel, BuffaloDefensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee Vince Wilfork, New England Jamal Williams, San Diego Casey Hampton, PittsburghOutside linebacker James Harrison, Pittsburgh Mike Vrabel, New England Shawne Merriman, San DiegoInside linebacker DeMeco Ryans, Houston Ray Lewis, BaltimoreCornerback Champ Bailey, Denver Asante Samuel, New England Antonio Cromartie, San DiegoFree safety Ed Reed, BaltimoreStrong safety Bob Sanders, Indianapolis Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh John Lynch, Denver Antoine Bethea, Indianapolis
Special teams Position:Player:Punter Shane Lechler, OaklandPlacekicker Rob Bironas, TennesseeKick returner Joshua Cribbs, ClevelandSpecial teamer Kassim Osgood, San DiegoLong snapper Ryan Pontbriand, Cleveland
NFC roster
Offense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Quarterback Brett Favre, Green Bay Tony Romo, Dallas Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Jeff Garcia, Tampa BayRunning back Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Marion Barber III, Dallas Brian Westbrook, PhiladelphiaFullback Tony Richardson, MinnesotaWide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Terrell Owens, Dallas Donald Driver, Green Bay Torry Holt, St. LouisTight end Jason Witten, Dallas Chris Cooley, WashingtonOffensive tackle Flozell Adams, Dallas Walter Jones, Seattle Chris Samuels, Washington Chad Clifton, Green BayOffensive guard Leonard Davis, Dallas Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota Shawn Andrews, PhiladelphiaCenter Andre Gurode, Dallas Matt Birk, Minnesota
Defense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Defensive end Aaron Kampman, Green Bay Patrick Kerney, Seattle Osi Umenyiora, N.Y. Giants Trent Cole, PhiladelphiaDefensive tackle Kevin Williams, Minnesota Pat Williams, Minnesota Tommie Harris, Chicago Darnell Dockett, ArizonaOutside linebacker Julian Peterson, Seattle DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Lance Briggs, Chicago Greg Ellis, DallasInside linebacker Lofa Tatupu, Seattle Patrick Willis, San FranciscoCornerback Al Harris, Green Bay Marcus Trufant, Seattle Terence Newman, DallasFree safety Sean Taylor, Washington Ken Hamlin, DallasStrong safety Darren Sharper, Minnesota Roy Williams, Dallas
Special teams Position:Player:Punter Andy Lee, San FranciscoPlacekicker Nick Folk, DallasKick returner Devin Hester, ChicagoSpecial teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo, ChicagoLong snapper Ethan Albright, Washington
Notes: Replacement selection due to injury or vacancy Injured player; selected but did not play Replacement starter; selected as reserve "Need player"; named by coach Posthumous selection Wore 21 in honor of Sean Taylor Replacement for posthumous selection Sean Taylor
Number of selections per team AFC team Selections NFC team Selections San Diego Chargers 9 Dallas Cowboys 13 New England Patriots 8 Minnesota Vikings 7 Cleveland Browns 6 Seattle Seahawks 6 Indianapolis Colts 6 Green Bay Packers 5 Pittsburgh Steelers 6 Chicago Bears 4 Baltimore Ravens 4 Washington Redskins 4 Tennessee Titans 3 Philadelphia Eagles 3 Buffalo Bills 2 Arizona Cardinals 2 Cincinnati Bengals 2 San Francisco 49ers 2 Denver Broncos 2 New York Giants 1 Kansas City Chiefs 2 St. Louis Rams 1 Houston Texans 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 Jacksonville Jaguars 1 Atlanta Falcons 0 Miami Dolphins 1 Carolina Panthers 0 Oakland Raiders 1 Detroit Lions 0 New York Jets 0 New Orleans Saints 0
Halftime The halftime show featured a performance by the band Lifehouse, who played their songs "Hanging by a Moment" and "First Time".
Foreign transmissions Denmark – TV3+ Norway – SportN United Kingdom – Sky Sports Middle East – Showsports 4
References
External links
Official Pro Bowl website at NFL.com Article examining the 2008 Pro Bowl's effect on Hawaii's tourism