Green Bay Packers safety Darren Sharper's 15-yard fumble return for a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars is among the five Week 15 nominees for "LEVITRA (vardenafil HCI) PLAY OF THE WEEK."
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 3 p.m. ET, exclusively on NFL.com. Each weekly winner will be a finalist for "LEVITRA PLAY OF THE YEAR," to be awarded at Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Florida.
Fans who vote at NFL.com each week can also enter for their chance to win a three-day/two-night trip for two to Jacksonville, Florida to attend Super Bowl XXXIX on February 6, 2005, including round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis' 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jerame Tuman against the New York Jets was voted last week's winner of "LEVITRA PLAY OF THE WEEK" by the fans on NFL.com.
For details and video of this week's nominees, past winners and the results of fan voting, log onto NFL.com.
In July 2003, Bayer Pharmaceutical Corporation (Bayer) & GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), co-marketers of LEVITRA (vardenafil HCI), a prescription medicine that is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), announced their groundbreaking sponsorship of the NFL.
Week #15 Nominees
Darren Sharper- S- Green Bay Packers, 15-yard fumble return for a touchdown
With the Green Bay Packers trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars 7-3 in the second quarter, Packers defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila jarred the ball loose from Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich as he readied to pass. Assuming an incompletion, most players passively watched as Jacksonville guard Vince Manuwai slowly collected the ball. Still moving at full speed, Green Bay safety Darren Sharper ripped the ball from the lineman's grasp and sprinted into the end zone for the touchdown. Sharper's heads-up play was not enough, as the Packers fell to the Jaguars 28-25.
Michael Vick- QB- Atlanta Falcons, 12-yard touchdown run
With less than two minutes to play in the game, and his team trailing the NFC South-rival Carolina Panthers by seven points, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick ran for a 12-yard touchdown. Faced with fourth-and-goal, Vick dropped back to pass and then took off towards the endzone, diving across the goal line to tie the score and send the game to overtime. The Falcons would complete the come-from-behind victory on a Jay Feely field goal for a 34-31 win.
Aaron Stecker- RB- New Orleans Saints, 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown
On the opening kickoff of the New Orleans Saints' match-up with the NFC South-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saints running back Aaron Stecker slipped trying to field the kick, regained his footing, picked up the ball and made five Bucs defenders miss before streaking 98 yards down the sideline for the game's first score. The Saints went on to defeat the Buccaneers 21-17.
Randy Moss- WR- Minnesota Vikings, 82-yard touchdown reception
With the Minnesota Vikings leading the Detroit Lions 7-3 in the second quarter and facing third and 24, Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper launched a long pass to wide receiver Randy Moss. Moss streaked past two Lions defenders, gathered in the deep ball and outran the defense for an 82-yard touchdown. The play proved crucial in the Vikings 28-27 win.
Derrius Thompson- WR- Miami Dolphins, Game-winning, 21-yard touchdown reception
On fourth down, with less than two minutes to play in the game and his team trailing the AFC East-rival New England Patriots by five points, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Derrius Thompson hauled in the game-winning, 21-yard touchdown pass. Thompson out-jumped a Patriots defensive back to catch the pass and landed in the endzone to give his team a one-point lead. The Dolphins would hold on for a 29-28 victory.
