The Washington Commanders snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Sunday, defeating the Chicago Bears 18-15 with a last-second Hail Mary that will be a 2024 top play.
Key Moments of the Game
- Commanders’ Early Lead: The Commanders dominated much of the game, leading 9-0 at halftime, primarily through field goals due to their struggles in the red zone.
- Bears’ Comeback: In the final moments, the Bears scored their first lead of the game when backup running back Roschon Johnson rushed for a touchdown, putting Chicago ahead 15-12 after a successful two-point conversion.
- Daniels’ Heroics: Despite playing through a rib injury sustained last week week, Jayden Daniels threw for 326 yards overall. He managed to evade pressure from the Bears’ defense before launching the Hail Mary pass that was tipped at the goal line and caught by Noah Brown for the win.
The Setup
For most of the game, the Commanders seemed in control, but only held a 9-0 lead at halftime. The Commanders inability to convert in the red zone kept the Bears within striking distance. As the fourth quarter wound down, it appeared Washington might be out of luck.
Bears’ Late Surge
With just 23 seconds left on the clock, Chicago’s backup running back Roschon Johnson punched in a touchdown, giving the Bears their first lead of the game. The Bears converted a two-point coversion making the score 15-12.
Daniels’ Heroic Moment
Despite nursing a rib injury from the previous week, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels did start the game and orchestrated the final play from the Commanders 48 yard line. As time expired, Daniels evaded the Chicago pass rush, before unleashing a towering spiral towards the end zone.
The Miracle Catch
In a scene reminiscent of Doug Flutie’s famous throw, the Hail Mary was tipped at the goal line amidst a sea of hands. The ball bounced backwards in the air to Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown who was standing all alone in the end zone, sending the Washington stadium into a frenzy.
side notes
- Commanders QB Jayden Daniels finished with 326 yards passing and a touchdown
- Since 2009 there have been only 17 Hail Mary touchdowns
- Bears QB Caleb Williams had a challenging day, completing just 10 of 24 passes for 131 yards
- The ground game was dominated by Bears running back D’Andre Swift, who led all players with 18 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown.