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NFL-186                 12/23/03

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Charles Leone                                                                                                               Brendan Moynihan

Alan Taylor Communications                                                                                          National Football League

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charles@alantaylor.com                                                                                                moynihanb@nfl.com
 

WEEK SIXTEEN NOMINEES NAMED FOR

“NFL PLAY OF THE WEEK -  PRESENTED BY LEVITRA”â

(vardenafil HCI)

Fan Voting Continues Through Noon ET Wednesday at NFL.com

NEW YORK, DECEMBER 23, 2003 – Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair’s game-winning touchdown pass to Drew Bennett against the Houston Texans is among the five Week 16 nominees for the “NFL PLAY OF THE WEEK - PRESENTED BY LEVITRA”â (vardenafil HCI) - introduced by the NFL this season. 

The award is presented each week during the NFL regular season to recognize the single most exciting play that week as determined by the fans.  Voting is open to the fans this week from Tuesday at Noon ET until Wednesday at Noon ET, exclusively on NFL.com. 

Each weekly winner will be a finalist for the “NFL PLAY OF THE YEAR - PRESENTED BY LEVITRA” - to be awarded at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Texas. Fans who vote at NFL.com each week can also be entered into a sweepstakes that will send one lucky winner and a guest to Super Bowl XXXVIII in February.

Chicago Bears rookie cornerback Charles Tillman’s game-saving, one-handed interception against the Minnesota Vikings was last week’s winner as voted by the fans at NFL.com.

For details and video of this week’s nominees, past winners and the results of fan voting, log onto NFL.com.
 

Week #16 Nominees

Steve McNair, QB - Tennessee Titans - Game-winning 23-yard touchdown pass to Drew Bennett
The Titans Pro Bowl quarterback finds Drew Bennett for a 23-yard touchdown on fourth and ten with 17 seconds left in the game.  McNair lead his team on an eight-play, 75-yard drive for the winning score and finished the game with 268 yards passing and two touchdowns.  With the 27-24 comeback victory, the Titans earned a playoff berth.

Rod Gardner, WR – Washington Redskins - 36-yard touchdown pass to Chad Morton
With 55 seconds left in the opening quarter, the Redskins wide receiver takes a lateral from Tim Hasselback and throws a 36-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Chad Morton, tying the score at ten.  With the touchdown, Gardner recorded his second touchdown pass of the season. The Redskins lost the game 27-24 on a last second field goal by Bears kicker Paul Edinger. 

Donte’ Stallworth, WR - New Orleans Saints - 42-yard reception from Aaron Brooks and lateral to Michael Lewis, Deuce McAllister and Jerome Pathon for a 75-yard touchdown
With six seconds left in the game and the Saints trailing by a touchdown, Aaron Brooks hits Donte' Stallworth with a 42-yard pass, Stallworth then runs across the field and flips the ball to Lewis, who gains 7 yards and pitches the ball back to Deuce McAllister for 5 yards.  McAllister looks to be tackled when he laterals to Jerome Pathon, who runs 21 yards for the touchdown. Saints kicker John Carney missed the ensuing extra point attempt which would have sent the game into overtime.

Tony Parrish, S – San Francisco 49ers – 25-yard interception-return to set up game-winning field goal
On the opening play of the overtime period, the 49ers veteran safety steps in front of a Donovan McNabb pass and records his second interception of the day, returning it 25-yards to set up a 22-yard game-winning field goal by Todd Peterson. With the 31-28 win, the San Francisco 49ers snapped the Eagles' nine-game winning streak as well as the team’s opportunity to lock up the NFC East title.

Renaldo Hill, CB – Arizona Cardinals – Acrobatic interception
The Cardinals third-year cornerback makes an acrobatic interception after deflecting a Trent Dilfer pass and having it hit off of his foot, his thigh, and his arm before finally gaining control of the ball while lying on his back. Hill recorded his fifth interception of the season and seventh of his career.  He also became the second Cardinal defensive back to be nominated for the - NFL Play of the Week – Presented by Levitra, as Dexter Jackson was nominated in Week 3.
 

LEVITRA, a new prescription medication recently approved by the FDA, is a Proud Sponsor of the NFL. LEVITRA is co-marketed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Bayer) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Earlier this year, Bayer and GSK entered into a multi-year partnership with the NFL.

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