GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The 2015 Pro Bowl provided a fitting visual on the awards podium: The quarterback with the gaudy stats standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the man who terrorized him for nearly two quarters.
Matthew Stafford threw for 316 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and was named Offensive MVP for helping lead Team Irvin to a 32-28 victory. J.J. Watt won the Defensive MVP award, mostly for being a menace to Stafford.
Watt had a goal-line interception of the Detroit Lions' quarterback, recovered a fumble charged to Stafford and had three swatted passes.
"It's so much fun to play with guys that are playing at such an elite level," Watt said of wining Defensive MVP. "The new style now where you pick teams, it makes it like schoolyard ball -- I've said that before. So it's competitive, 32-28, we had a chance to go down there at the end of the game, didn't make it happen, but the game this year and last year have been very competitive."
The Houston Texans' defensive lineman was a superstar among superstars this week. One of the biggest cheers Sunday night came when the videoboard showed Watt dancing on the field during a timeout.
"I just try and enjoy it," he said. "That is what the Pro Bowl is all about: giving the fans a good show. Everybody has worked so hard to get here, you want to enjoy yourself, play some good ball, but guys dancing around having fun is what it's all about."
While Stafford was picked on by Watt, the Lions quarterback credited the multitude of weapons at his disposal, from teammate Golden Tate, to Odell Beckham Jr. for helping him win the all-star MVP award.
"I looked across and it was pick your poison," Stafford said. "I was loving every second of it, getting to throw to some of those great ones. Jason Witten, Jimmy Graham, all those (guys), it was a lot of fun."
Stafford added that the competitive nature of the game came out down the stretch.
"You get out there between the white lines, everyone is playing now," he said. "Not the same big hits, but those DBs were trying to pick every ball off. At the end of the games, those guys were rushing the quarterback as they would in a game. So, it picked up like it should and I thought it went well."
Stafford got the win and Watt added another accolade ahead of the ones he's sure to win at NFL Honors, which will be broadcast Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
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