T.J. ends up with four catches; NFC wins

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

T.J. Houshmandzadeh added two touchdown receptions in the Pro Bowl to go with the 12 he had in the regular season for the Bengals.

Houshmandzadeh made his all-star debut a memorable one, grabbing four catches for 44 yards and the two touchdowns – from 16 yards and 1 yard – but the NFC defeated the AFC 42-30 tonight at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

Houshmandzadeh’s touchdown receptions came from Peyton Manning of the Colts and Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers.

He was shut out in the second half. But his first-half performance helped the AFC jump out to a 27-21 lead.

Fellow wide receiver Chad Johnson was the only other Bengals player in Hawaii for the game. He had two receptions for 30 yards.

Minnesota rookie running back Adrian Peterson was voted the game’s most valuable player after rushing for 129 yards – second most in Pro Bowl history – and two touchdowns.

At the half, Houshmandzadeh looked to be the favorite to earn game MVP honors. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was MVP of the 2007 game.

The NFC fared better in the red zone than the AFC. The NFC converted touchdowns on all six of its possessions inside the AFC 20-yard line. The AFC, on the other hand, was just three of five in scoring red-zone touchdowns.

Houshmandzadeh, playing in his first Pro Bowl game in seven NFL seasons with the Bengals, told The Enquirer last week that he liked the offensive scheme of San Diego coach Norv Turner and was confident he would be used in a variety of ways. He was.