The 1985 Pro Bowl was the NFL's 35th annual all-star game which featured the outstanding performers from the 1984 season. The game was played on Sunday, January 27, 1985, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii before a crowd of 50,385.[1] The final score was AFC 22, NFC 14.[2]

1985 NFL Pro Bowl
DateJanuary 27, 1985
StadiumAloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii
MVPMark Gastineau (New York Jets)
RefereeChuck Heberling
Attendance50,385
TV in the United States
NetworkABC
AnnouncersFrank Gifford, Don Meredith & Lynn Swann

Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers led the AFC team against an NFC team coached by Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka.[3] The referee was Chuck Heberling.[1]

Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets was named the game's Most Valuable Player.[2] Players on the winning AFC team received $10,000 apiece while the NFC participants each took home $5,000.[4]

Game Recap

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For 26 minutes of this game, it was scoreless, then the NFC had the ball on their own 20-yard line with 4:10 left in the first half. On first down Joe Klecko sacked Neil Lomax for an 11-yard loss, then on second down Rod Martin sacked him for an 8-yard loss and on third down Mark Gastineau tackled Eric Dickerson for a safety and an AFC 2-0 lead. Later in the game Seattle's Fred Young blocked a partial punt to set the next score as NFL MVP of 1984 Dan Marino threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Allen as the AFC head to the locker room with a 9-0 lead at Halftime.

In the second half especially the third quarter, the NFC mounted the best drive of the game as it went 66 yards on 12 plays and capping it off with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Super Bowl XIX MVP Joe Montana to James Lofton with 8:04 left in period three. Then the NFC went into high gear as they had a 53-yard 9-play drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown run by Walter Payton with 35 seconds into the fourth quarter and a 14-9 lead. But then here comes the AFC as a 56-yard pass from Marino to Marcus Allen set a successful 33-yard field goal by the Seattle Seahawks Norm Johnson to cut the NFC lead to 14-12.

Now the NFC was driving trying to put this exhibition game out of reach, but with 5:15 left in the game and with the NFC at the AFC 15-yard line on third, Marino tried to hand off to 1984 record breaking sensation Eric Dickerson, but the two collided causing a fumble, and Art Still picked it up and ran 83 yards for a touchdown and the AFC took the lead 19-14. In the closing minutes, the AFC lead by the game's MVP Mark Gastineau shut down the NFC the rest of the way and Norm Johnson's 22-yard field goal with 43 seconds left in the game gave the AFC the victory and close the book on the 1984 NFL Season.

The game was televised on ABC's Wide World of Sports, and it was also the last telecast of Don Meredith's illustrious broadcasting career.

AFC roster

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Offense

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Position Starter(s) Reserve(s)
Quarterback 13 Dan Marino, Miami 17 Dave Krieg, Seattle
Running back 32 Marcus Allen, L. A. Raiders
23 Sammy Winder, Denver
28 Greg Bell, Buffalo
41 Earnest Jackson, San Diego
24 Freeman McNeil, N.Y. Jets
Wide receiver 85 Mark Duper, Miami
82 John Stallworth, Pittsburgh
89 Mark Clayton, Miami
80 Steve Largent, Seattle
Tight end 82 Ozzie Newsome, Cleveland 46 Todd Christensen, L.A. Raiders
Offensive tackle 78 Anthony Muñoz, Cincinnati
76 Brian Holloway, New England
70 Henry Lawrence, L. A. Raiders
Offensive guard 73 John Hannah, New England
64 Ed Newman, Miami
63 Mike Munchak, Houston
Center 57 Dwight Stephenson, Miami 52 Mike Webster, Pittsburgh

Defense

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Position Starter(s) Reserve(s)
Defensive end 99 Mark Gastineau, N.Y. Jets
75 Howie Long, L.A. Raiders
67 Art Still, Kansas City
Defensive tackle 72 Joe Nash, Seattle 73 Bob Baumhower, Miami
73 Joe Klecko, N.Y. Jets
Outside linebacker 53 Rod Martin, L.A. Raiders
57 Mike Merriweather, Pittsburgh
56 Andre Tippett, New England
Inside linebacker 56 Robin Cole, Pittsburgh
57 Steve Nelson, New England
77 A.J. Duhe, Miami
Cornerback 37 Lester Hayes, L.A. Raiders
22 Mike Haynes, L.A. Raiders
22 Dave Brown, Seattle
Free safety 20 Deron Cherry, Kansas City 26 Vann McElroy, L.A. Raiders
Strong safety 45 Kenny Easley, Seattle

Special teams

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Position Starter(s) Reserve(s)
Punter   4 Reggie Roby, Miami
Placekicker   9 Norm Johnson, Seattle
Kick returner 83 Louis Lipps, Pittsburgh
Special Teamer 50 Fredd Young, Seattle

NFC roster

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Offense

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Position Starter(s) Reserve(s)
Quarterback 16 Joe Montana, San Francisco 15 Neil Lomax, St. Louis
Running back 29 Eric Dickerson, L.A. Rams
34 Walter Payton, Chicago
20 Wendell Tyler, San Francisco
32 James Wilder, Tampa Bay
Wide receiver 81 Roy Green, St. Louis
81 Art Monk, Washington
80 James Lofton, Green Bay
82 Mike Quick, Philadelphia
Tight end 82 Paul Coffman, Green Bay 84 Doug Cosbie, Dallas
Offensive tackle 66 Joe Jacoby, Washington
78 Mike Kenn, Atlanta
71 Keith Fahnhorst, San Francisco
Offensive guard 51 Randy Cross, San Francisco
60 Russ Grimm, Washington
72 Kent Hill, Los Angeles Rams
Center 56 Fred Quillan, San Francisco 56 Doug Smith, Los Angeles Rams

Defense

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Position Starter(s) Reserve(s)
Defensive end 95 Richard Dent, Chicago
63 Lee Roy Selmon, Tampa Bay
75 Bruce Clark, New Orleans
Defensive tackle 99 Dan Hampton, Chicago 54 Randy White, Dallas
Outside linebacker 57 Rickey Jackson, New Orleans
56 Lawrence Taylor, N. Y. Giants
58 Keena Turner, San Francisco
Inside linebacker 50 Mike Singletary, Chicago
54 E. J. Junior, St. Louis
53 Harry Carson, N. Y. Giants
Cornerback 28 Darrell Green, Washington
42 Ronnie Lott, San Francisco
36 Mark Haynes, N.Y. Giants
Free safety 22 Dwight Hicks, San Francisco
Strong safety 25 Todd Bell, Chicago 27 Carlton Williamson, San Francisco

Special teams

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Position Starter(s) Reserve(s)
Punter   10 Brian Hansen, New Orleans
Placekicker   3 Jan Stenerud, Minnesota
Kick returner 80 Henry Ellard, L.A. Rams
Special Teamer 40 Bill Bates, Dallas

References

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  1. ^ a b "1985 Pro Bowl game book" (PDF). NFL Game Statistics & Information. National Football League. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "AFC's defense scoops up Pro Bowl win". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. AP. January 28, 1985. p. 18. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  3. ^ "49ers, Dolphins get another shot Sunday in Pro Bowl tilt". The Vindicator (Youngstown, Ohio). AP. January 26, 1985. p. 14. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  4. ^ "NFL Pro Bowl history". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
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