FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                     
NFL-116                   11/4/03

Contact:                                                                                                                        Contact:

Charles Leone                                                                                                                Brendan Moynihan

Alan Taylor Communications                                                                                           National Football League

212-714-1280 x233                                                                                                         212-450-2246

charles@alantaylor.com                                                                                                 moynihanb@nfl.com
 

WEEK NINE NOMINEES NAMED FOR

“NFL PLAY OF THE WEEK” -  PRESENTED BY LEVITRAâ

(vardenafil HCI)

Fan Voting Continues Through Noon ET Thursday at NFL.com

NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 4, 2003 – Houston Texans tight end Billy Miller’s game-winning one-handed 20-yard touchdown reception from Tony Banks against the Carolina Panthers is among the five week nine nominees for the NFL PLAY OF THE WEEK - PRESENTED BY LEVITRAâ (vardenafil HCI) - introduced by the NFL this season. 

The award is presented each Thursday 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 each week from Tuesday at Noon ET until Thursday 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.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Horn’s acrobatic 14-yard touchdown reception from Aaron Brooks against the Carolina Panthers 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 #9 Nominees

Billy Miller, TE - Houston Texans - Game-winning 20-yard touchdown reception from Tony Banks
Early in the fourth quarter, trailing the Carolina Panthers 10-7, the Texans tight end splits two defenders and makes a spectacular one-hand game-winning touchdown catch from quarterback Tony Banks.  Miller’s second touchdown of the season clinched the Texans third win of the season, 14-10 over the NFC South leading Panthers. Miller finished the game with 4 catches for 58 yards. 

Tai Streets, WR - San Francisco 49ers - 5-yard touchdown reception from Tim Rattay
On San Francisco's first possession of the second-half, Tai Streets goes airborne to make a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch of a Tim Rattay pass in traffic. Streets finished the game with 3 receptions for 26 yards and helped quarterback Tim Rattay to a 30-10 win over the Rams in his first career NFL start.   The win avenged an early season loss to St. Louis and improved San Francisco's record to 4-5.  

Ashley Ambrose, CB - New Orleans Saints - 73-yard interception-return touchdown
The Saints cornerback returns the second of his two interceptions 73 yards for a touchdown to put New Orleans up 14-0 over the defending Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers going into the fourth quarter. Ambrose's earlier pick of a Brad Johnson pass set up the Saints other touchdown on an Aaron Brooks' 38-yard touchdown pass to Michael Lewis. The Saints went on to defeat Tampa Bay 17-14 on a John Carney field goal.

Will Allen, CB - New York Giants - Field goal block in overtime
After his team had already missed a potential game-winning 39-yard field goal in overtime, the Giants third-year cornerback bolted past the right side of the Jets line to block a potential game-winning 51-yard field goal by Doug Brien. The play proved to be crucial as the Giants marched down the field and kicked the game-winning field goal just prior to the end of overtime. Allen's block fueled the Giants to a 31-28 win in the battle of New York and moved the Giants back to .500 with a record of 4-4 at the season's midpoint.

Dwight Freeney, DE – Indianapolis Colts – Game-sealing sack and forced fumble
With the Colts clinging to a six point lead with two minutes to play Indianapolis’ speedy second year defensive end blows around the Dolphins offensive line and sacks Brian Griese, forcing a fumble that the Colts would recover.  The game-sealing play was Freeney’s third sack and second forced fumble of the day.   The 23-17 road win over the Dolphins improved the Colts record to an AFC South leading 7-1.  
 

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.

#  #  #