Head coaches Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots, Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans and Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins are the nominees for Motorola NFL Coach Of The Week honors for games played December 29 - 30, the NFL announced today.
Fans can vote on NFL.com for the head coach whose game plan played the greatest role in his team's victory. Voting will take place from Monday at 3:00 pm EST through noon EST on Friday to determine the Motorola NFL Coach Of The Week. The winner will be announced Friday afternoon on NFL.com. In January, voting will be held on NFL.com to determine the Motorola NFL Coach Of The Year.
A closer look at the Motorola NFL Coach of the Week nominees:
- New England's Bill Belichick led the Patriots to a 38-35 win over the New York Giants at the Meadowlands to complete an undefeated regular season at 16 - 0. Under Belichick's direction, QB Tom Brady completed 32 of 42 passes and passed for 356 yards and two touchdowns. WR Randy Moss caught both of Brady's touchdowns, the second of which set the NFL single-season record for touchdown passes by Brady (50) and the single-season mark for touchdown receptions by Moss (23). The Patriots also set the NFL single-season record for points scored (589) on Brady's 4-yard touchdown pass to Moss in the second quarter, breaking the 1998 Moss-led Minnesota Vikings' mark of 556. The Patriots gained 390 total net yards and controlled the ball for 36:18. Defensively the Patriots forced one turnover that cost the Giants the game when CB Ellis Hobbs intercepted Eli Manning which led to the Patriots' winning touchdown drive. The Patriots defense also held the Giants to only seven points from 9:12 in the third quarter until the end of the game allowing the Patriots to emerge victorious and undefeated. Lastly, Belichick included Mike Vrabel on special teams during the final play of the game to successfully receive an onside kick and secure the win for New England.
- Tennessee's Jeff Fisher coached the Titans to beat the AFC South division winning Colts in a 16 - 10 primetime match-up to secure the sixth and final playoff birth in the AFC. Fisher used the QB tandem of Vince Young and Kerry Collins to gain 356 total yards and control the clock for 35:32. The Titans offense scored one touchdown and kicker Rob Bironas scored three field goals in the third and fourth quarters, including a long 54-yard field goal, to earn the win and playoff spot for the Titans. The Titans defense forced two turnovers and limited the Colts to only 194 total net yards including only 46 rushing.
- Washington's Joe Gibbs brought the Redskins into the playoffs with a 27 - 6 win over the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys. Gibbs developed a game plan that gained the Redskins 354 total net yards, 223 in the air and 131 on the ground, and that controlled the ball for 37:08. QB Todd Collins completed 22 of 31 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown and RB Clinton Portis rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns. The Redskins defense held the Cowboys to only 147 total yards, comprised of 146 passing yards and just one net rushing yard. This is the Redskins fourth straight victory that secures the sixth NFC playoff spot and sends them to Seattle next week for Wild Card Weekend.
Motorola's brand has become synonymous with NFL coaches through the coaches' headsets worn during every NFL game. The NFL and Motorola recently unveiled newly designed Coaches Headsets that are lighter, thinner and more ergonomically advanced in comparison to their predecessors. Motorola believes NFL coaches are game-changing innovators whose creativity and expertise fuels the exciting brand of football enjoyed by millions of fans around the world.
