When crunch time came, the youngsters showed up.

Arizona's Anquan Boldin caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Dallas' Tony Romo with 1:06 left, and Carolina's Steve Smith hauled in the two-point conversion for the NFC to tie the game at 28.

The AFC, however, answered, driving 63 yards to the NFC 3-yard line, where San Diego's Nate Kaeding nailed the game-winning 21-yard field goal as time expired in the AFC's 31-28 victory.

Nonetheless, the NFC's receivers brought excitement to the fourth quarter when some had already left the stadium.

"They're true stars," said Green Bay's Donald Driver, who was making his second Pro Bowl appearance. "I take my hat off to them, they just make plays."

Driver, an eighth-year pro, finished with three catches for 38 yards.

Following a 4-yard touchdown run by St. Louis' Steven Jackson to close the AFC's lead to 28-20, Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber recovered the ensuing onside kick for the NFC.

Romo was sacked on first down, but he found Boldin for a 5-yard gain on second down, leaving the NFC with third-and-6 from its 46-yard line.

Romo took matters into his own hands, scrambling for a first down, before San Diego's Shawne Merriman forced a fumble, which was recovered by Atlanta tight end Alge Crumpler.

"That was a big play," said Boldin. "Alge came through big time."

After the two-minute warning, Romo — out of the shotgun — scrambled to his left, then launched a pass down the mauka sideline. Boldin, who was being covered by New York Jets' defensive back Justin Miller, came back to the ball, juked to the inside, cut back to the outside and left Miller in his dust.

"Tony and I talked about it coming out of the huddle," said Arizona's fourth-year pro. "I just told him to get it high and give me a chance on it."

Boldin finished as the NFC's leading pass-catcher with 86 yards on five receptions.

Smith's two-point conversion came as many of the fans remaining were chanting for New York Giants' running back Tiki Barber to get the ball. Instead, New Orleans' head coach Sean Payton went to the air.

"It was a play that coach Payton called to me, so I knew I'd be getting it," said Smith, a two-time Pro Bowler. "The guys were calm (in the huddle) after the touchdown, they knew what to do."

Smith, who just completed his fifth season out of Utah, had four receptions and 62 yards.

Detroit's Roy Williams, who served as a replacement for St. Louis' Torry Holt, caught three passes for 58 yards in his first trip to Honolulu.

"We all came in and contributed," said Williams of the NFC receivers. "Getting to play with these guys was great."

Williams, a three-year veteran, caught a 25-yard crossing pattern on third-and-6 in the second quarter to extend an NFC drive. However, three plays later, St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger fumbled and Baltimore's Adalius Thomas took it 70 yards the other way for an AFC score.

The NFC offense had its share of difficulties, with the quarterbacks going just 21 of 42 with two interceptions and a passer rating of 62.8. However, with the rushing game generating just 71 yards on 27 attempts and a two-touchdown deficit, the NFC was forced to go to the air in the fourth quarter.

After managing just 38 yards in the third quarter, the NFC had 132 in the final period.

"We're all professionals and given the chance to play, we're all going to compete," Williams said.