Matt Ryan (2) led Team Irvin to a comeback win over Team Carter. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan completed a 1-yard pass to New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham with 3:10 remaining, lifting Team Irvin to a 32-28 victory over Team Carter in a loosely physical Pro Bowl on Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Graham’s second touchdown reception came on a fourth-down play and capped a 70-yard drive.
Ryan, the third quarterback used by Team Irvin, completed 11 of 16 passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. His 1-yard pass to Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders late in the third quarter brought his team within 28-25.
Sanders also caught two touchdown passes in a game featured six quarterbacks and six lead changes.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton’s fourth-down incompletion in the end zone with 46 seconds left ended Team Carter’s chances.
Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford completed 15 of 25 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns for Team Irvin, but he also threw an interception and fumbled a handoff. Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt had the interception and recovered the fumble.
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen caught two touchdown passes for Team Carter, one on a play that was reversed after an official on-field review using computer tablets.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles had seven receptions for 87 yards and also had three carries for 42 yards for Team Irvin. New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had five receptions for 89 yards for the winners.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck completed nine of 10 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns while playing only the first quarter for Team Carter.
Luck and the Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Romo were the only two quarterbacks of the original six Pro Bowl selections to play in the game. Romo played one series for Team Irvin.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown had six receptions for 98 yards for Team Carter.
New Orleans running back Mark Ingram had a game-high 79 rushing yards on 12 carries for Team Irvin.
Luck threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Olsen and a 14-yarder to Colts teammate T.Y. Hilton to cap 75-yard drives in the first quarter for a 13-9 lead. Hilton beat another teammate, cornerback Vontae Davis, on his score.
Stafford threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Sanders in the first quarter and a 6-yarder to Graham in the second quarter. Graham dunked the ball over the goal post after his catch, a move that was banned during the regular season and earned him $30,000 in preseason fines.
Two field goals by Colts placekicker Adam Vinatieri gave Team Irvin a 19-13 lead before New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson.
Nelson celebrated with a jump-bump into Green Bay teammate Clay Matthews, who was playing for Team Carter.
NOTES: The NFL tested a new review system designed to speed up the process, with officials able to see streaming video on a tablet on the field. The league also made replays available to players and coaches on the sideline via tablet. … Players for the winning team earned $55,000, while the losers got $28,000, as stipulated by the collective bargaining agreement. Players who were selected but have a Super Bowl commitment are to receive $41,500. … The University of Phoenix Stadium roof was open for the first time in an NFL game since the Cardinals hosted San Francisco on Dec. 29, 2013. It was 70 degrees at kickoff. The Cardinals prefer a closed roof in order to maximize crowd noise. … There were no kickoffs to minimize the risk of injury. … The goalposts were reduced from 18 feet wide to 14 feet, which may have made the difference in Adam Vinatieri’s missed conversion kicks in the first and third quarters.
