HONOLULU -- Rich Gannon made history Saturday.

Gannon, who was 8-of-10 passing for 137 yards and two touchdowns in a little over one quarter of work, was named the Pro Bowl MVP, becoming the first player to claim back-to-back MVP honors in the Pro Bowl.

	Rich Gannon completed 8-of-10 passes and tossed two touchdowns for the AFC.

In fact, Gannon is the first two-time winner since the NFL began naming just one Pro Bowl MVP in 1973.

"It's pretty exciting," said Gannon of his repeat. "It's a lot of fun and I really had a great week."

Gannon's day got off to a rough start, with a fumble on the first play from scrimmage of the game. Hugh Douglas recovered the fumble, returning it to the AFC's 2-yard line and setting up a touchdown run by Ahman Green that put the NFC ahead 7-0 after less than 30 seconds.

Gannon quickly overcame that mistake, leading the AFC to 21 straight points in the first quarter and a 28-13 lead when he left the game.

Gannon's first touchdown pass covered 55 yards to Marvin Harrison and came after the NFC had opened a 10-0 lead. Harrison beat Ronde Barber to the middle of the field and with John Lynch late coming over the help, Harrison had a clear path to the end zone.

The second touchdown was a 19-yarder to Ken Dilger down the left sideline. NFC linebacker LaVar Arrington gambled in trying to knock the ball down, leaving Dilger a clear path to the end zone and putting the AFC up 28-13.

"I'll tell you what, it's fun to play with these guys," Gannon said. It was really a team effort today. I thought our offensive line, the backs and the receivers all made big plays. The defense came up with some big turnovers. It was really just a fun day for everybody."

Gannon received praise after the game from AFC head coach Bill Cowher.

"He's a leader and he has a great feel for the game, with his ability to see the field, and he's one of those guys that you know your always in a game when he's in there for you," said Cowher.

The Pro Bowl MVP caps a season that began with Super Bowl hopes for the Raiders and ended in disappointment with a loss to the Patriots in the divisional playoffs.

"Obviously that's something that's very hard to swallow," Gannon said when asked if his Pro Bowl MVP helped ease the pain of the Raiders' playoff ouster.

However, Gannon was quick to point out that he's already put this season's disappointment in the past.

"You have to look forward and we feel like we have a very good football team and I think we're going to be a good football team. I really believe that," Gannon said. "I feel as good about our football team as I have since I've been a Raider and I know we're going to get better. I know we're going to be aggressive with free-agent acquisitions and I know that we'll do well in the draft and I feel like we'll be a much-improved football team next year."

Rest for the weary
Finally, Tom Brady can get some rest.

Since winning the Super Bowl last Sunday, Brady traveled from New Orleans to Orlando to Boston and finally to Hawaii in the span of two days. Add to that the fact that Brady was far and away the most-sought-after Pro Bowler by the media and the second-year quarterback could clearly use a little time away from all the cameras and questions.

When asked how much rest he was going to get now that his season was over, Brady replied quickly, "As much as you can.

"I'm just going to try to sit down and map out my next couple of months. I'm going over to Kauai next week for the Quarterback Challenge and have some fun over there."

While it's been a tiring week, Brady, who didn't enter the game until the fourth quarter, said that he fully enjoyed his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

"It's been pretty exciting to be here. It's been a lot of fun and I learned a lot this week."

Law hands off to Lewis
The AFC sealed the game on a fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown that was probably the most exciting play of the game.

Patriots cornerback Ty Law intercepted a Donovan McNabb pass intended for David Boston, returning it 31 yards before pitching the ball back to Ray Lewis. Lewis proceeded to do his best Earl Campbell impersonation, barreling the last 13 yards for the touchdown, covering the last five yards with would-be NFC tacklers draped all over his back.

"I was trying to take it in myself. But I saw Ray sitting there by himself and I had a guy hanging on my leg and just pitched it to him," said Law. "I'm trying to win. At that point it was a close game and that pretty much sealed it. You I knew once Ray got it, no one was stopping him from getting into the end zone. He's a strong guy and he just bulled his way in like he was Larry Czonka."

Lewis displayed skills that would have been the envy of most running backs in the league, a position he hasn't played since high school. "The game always gets big in the fourth quarter," Lewis said. "The ball was in my hands and I made a play. It was just time for me to make a play."

Basking in his big play after the game, Law was looking forward to some time to relax.

"I'm about to go sip on a couple of mai tais and relax and play with my daughter," said Law.

No more questions
Keyshawn Johnson, Mike Alstott, Ronde Barber and John Lynch probably love coming to Hawaii. But one thing is for sure: They won't mind not having to answer questions about the Bucs' bizarre search for a new coach.

"It been an eventful week from that standpoint, and unsettling," Lynch said. "A lot of people's livelihoods are at stake here and it's unsettling. Especially after being so close to getting it done. I think we're going to be fine, but a lot is up in the air right now. Just looking forward to some closer so we can move on."

Peter Lawrence-Riddell is the assistant NFL editor for ESPN.com