Shaun King turned an improvisation into a game-saving play
Quarterback Shaun King and running back Warrick Dunn of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the winners of the DirecTV NFL Play of the Week Award for the 16th week of the 2000 season, the NFL announced today.
King and Dunn combined on a 15-yard play involving a lateral that kept the Buccaneers' game-winning drive alive in Tampa Bay's 38-35 win over St. Louis on Monday night.
From the Bucs' 35, King threw a swing lateral to Dunn on the right side, but he was quickly stopped far behind the line and, as he was being tackled, he lateraled the ball back to King.
King started left, but then quickly ran right and streaked down the sideline for a 15-yard gain. The play was enhanced by a 15-yard late-hit penalty on the Rams which gave the Buccaneers the ball at the St. Louis 35 with 1:33 remaining. Eight plays later, the Bucs scored the game-winning touchdown.
"Shaun was calling for the ball," said Dunn. "We were desperate at the time. It turned out to be a great play."
Fans can view the DirecTV NFL Play of the Week each Tuesday on nfl.com. This is the first season of the DirecTV NFL Play of the Week Award. DirecTV will donate a total of $10,000 in the names of the weekly winners to the United Way.
This is the second time the award has gone to a pair of Buccaneers this season. In Week One, King and WR Reidel Anthony were chosen for their part in an eight-yard touchdown pass at New England. On the play, King faked a clock-killing spike, then threw a fade pass to Anthony in the right corner of the end zone against an unsuspecting Patriots defense.
