⚡ THE LIGHTNING ROD ⚡
Special Edition • 2006 PFL Pro Bowl • By Jack "The Lightning Rod" Callahan
OPENING SHOT The Super Bowl may crown a champion, but the Pro Bowl reminds us why we love this league in the first place. Big names. Bigger egos. And somehow...a game that actually lived up to the hype. The NFC escaped with a 29-27 victory, but not before both conferences reminded everyone just how much star power the PFL has accumulated.
GAME STORY The AFC came out throwing punches, jumping ahead early behind Peyton Manning and an absolutely dominant rushing attack led by Edgerrin James and LaDainian Tomlinson. The ground game piled up an eye-popping 212 rushing yards, averaging over nine yards a carry, while the NFC struggled to get anything going between the tackles.
The problem? Matt Hasselbeck wasn't interested in running the football. He carved up the AFC secondary for 185 yards and two touchdowns, repeatedly connecting with Ashley Lelie and Tony Gonzalez to keep the NFC within striking distance. Jason Elam quietly became the game's silent assassin, drilling all five of his field-goal attempts. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, every possession felt like it could decide the afternoon—and that's exactly how it played out as the NFC held on by two points.
THE CHARGERS REPRESENT San Diego had plenty to be proud of.
• LaDainian Tomlinson (the former Charger GREAT) reminded everyone why defenders hate seeing No. 21 in the backfield, rushing for 89 yards on just 11 carries while averaging a ridiculous 8.0 yards per attempt.
• Jason Witten turned two receptions into 41 yards and a touchdown, proving once again that tight ends who catch everything tend to make quarterbacks look awfully smart.
• Mark Bradley contributed on special teams with kick and punt return duties, continuing to show the versatility that made him one of the league's breakout contributors.
JACK'S WINNERS Edgerrin James — 113 rushing yards and a touchdown. Every time he touched the football, something good seemed to happen.
Matt Hasselbeck — Efficient, poised, and deadly when the NFC needed points most.
Jason Elam — Five-for-five on field goals. Kickers rarely get headlines...today he earned one.
Ashley Lelie — Three catches, 99 yards and a touchdown. One play away from cracking the century mark.
JACK'S HEAD SCRATCHER How in the world do you rush for more than 200 yards, average over nine yards every time you hand the ball off...and still lose? Somebody on the AFC sideline must've forgotten that giving the ball to Edgerrin James and LaDainian Tomlinson over and over wasn't exactly a bad game plan. Sometimes football coaches outthink themselves. Sometimes they just stop feeding the hot hand. Either way, the NFC won't be sending thank-you cards.
⚡ BOLT OF THE PRO BOWL LaDainian Tomlinson - I know, former Charger, but we're still proud to stake claim to him!
11 carries • 89 yards • 8.0 yards per carry
He didn't find the end zone, but every touch reminded the rest of the league why he's one of the most feared offensive weapons in football. If this was meant to be an exhibition, nobody told LT.
BRECK'S CORNER I caught up with Chargers GM
Darryl "BRECK" Breckheimer after the game and asked what he thought about seeing several of his players under the bright lights.
"I was happy to see our guys represent San Diego the right way. Although watching LT average eight yards a carry and not get the ball every other snap? Let's just say I'd have made a few different play calls." Easy there, BRECK. Somewhere an AFC offensive coordinator just felt a sharp pain between the shoulder blades.
BY THE NUMBERS Final Score: NFC 29, AFC 27
Total Offense: AFC 387 • NFC 386
Rushing: AFC 212 yards • NFC 82 yards
Passing: NFC 304 yards • AFC 175 yards
Turnovers: Even at one apiece
Difference Maker: Jason Elam's perfect 5-for-5 afternoon.
LOOKING AHEAD The Pro Bowl closes the book on an unforgettable 2006 campaign, but it also offers a glimpse of what's coming. Established stars proved they're still elite, while several younger names announced themselves on one of the league's biggest stages. General managers across the PFL are already thinking about training camp, roster moves, and how to close the gap before kickoff next season.
THE FINAL WORD
The scoreboard says the NFC won by two. The stat sheet says the AFC dominated the ground game. That's football—sometimes the numbers tell one story while the scoreboard tells another. As for Chargers fans, seeing LT, Jason Witten, and Mark Bradley shine among the league's elite is another reminder that San Diego isn't lacking star power. Now the challenge is turning Pro Bowl talent into championship football when the new season begins. Until then, enjoy the debates, enjoy the offseason...and as always, Bolt Up!
