Players defend Pro Bowl after 62-35 NFC win

"I hope we keep it here and keep it here for a long time," Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph said after winning Pro Bowl MVP in a 62-35 NFC win on Sunday.

Rudolph called the award icing on a cake of being named to the roster and getting to spend time with other Pro Bowl players in Hawaii.

"That was the big emphasis this week, making sure that we were competitive and I think we showed that," he said.

The shenanigans were limited. The teams scored plenty of points. Yet the results were familiar — another ho-hum Pro Bowl.

Now, the future of the game depends on how Commissioner Roger Goodell sees it.

"That's for him to decide," Denver quarterback Peyton Manning said. "I thought it was a good, competitive game."

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson got the crowd pumped up in the second half with some nifty scrambles and three passing touchdowns. There was also Houston's sack-happy defensive end J.J. Watt going out for a couple of passes as a wide receiver, and retiring Green Bay center Jeff Saturday snapping to two Mannings on opposite teams.

But while the NFC appeared unstoppable on offense, with nearly each player putting up fantasy-worthy lines in limited play, the AFC had five turnovers and scored most of its points well after the game was no longer competitive.

"Guys were competing, guys wanted to win and guys want to keep the game here," Rudolph insisted. "That was the point before the game. We want to keep this game rolling for future Pro Bowlers."

Watt, who had 20½ sacks for Houston, lined up as a wide receiver on the AFC's third play from scrimmage, but missed a pass from Peyton Manning. He was targeted one more time, but didn't make a catch.

He later showed a television camera a bloody left pinkie, joking with NBC broadcasters that it was proof that the players were trying.

"Hey, Commish, we're playing hard," Watt said as he showed his finger.

Watt said after the game that he wanted to stay in even as things got lopsided.

"I'm sure some guys thought about (letting up), but I'm not going to sit out," Watt said. "I like to play football, it's fun, so I just tried to enjoy it."

Goodell has said the Pro Bowl won't be played again if play didn't improve this year. Last year, fans in Hawaii booed as lineman were clearly not trying. On one play in that game, Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen did a barrel roll to switch positions with a teammate.