Jan 5, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer before the AFC wild card playoff game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Bengals were once again able to win a gutsy game that saw the defense play their guts out for four quarters as the offense sputtered and forced Mike Zimmer to call nothing short of a masterful game in order to hold Tom Bray and the Patriots offense down.

Not only that, but he kept the future hall-of-famer Brady from throwing a touchdown pass for the first time in his last 52 games.

So it came as no surprise when the game was over, Zimmer was awarded a rare game ball:

Marvin gives game ball away for 2nd time ever. Recipient: Mike Zimmer.

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) October 6, 2013

Marvin Lewis gave DC Mike Zimmer the game ball after today’s #Bengals win. Second time he’s given one out. Mike Brown got one in ’03 vs. KC

— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) October 6, 2013

This was just the latest masterful game plan Zimmer called against one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks. In Week 3, his defense constantly pressured Aaron Rodgers into one of the worst games of his NFL career.

He finished that game  with a 64.5 QB rating, Rodgers’ lowest since the NFC Championship Game against Chicago in January 2011. His mark then was 55.4.

Simply put, h’es one of the best coordinators in the league, and he should be a head coach next year.