Being a high NFL draft pick comes with tremendous expectations. The anticipation for their first encounter on Sunday was high because quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams, the top two players chosen in the April draft, had lived up to the expectation with their frequently explosive offensive playmaking halfway through their rookie seasons.
The game deviated somewhat from those high expectations for three quarters before turning into an instant classic in the last quarter, which concluded with the most memorable play of the 2024 NFL season thus far.
Williams and the Chicago Bears overcame a 12-point deficit to take a 15-12 lead against Washington with 23 seconds remaining, then converted a two-point field goal. This was accomplished by bringing up an offensive that had been lacking for the first three quarters.
Playing through a rib injury sustained just a week earlier, Daniels scurried about to extend the play 12 seconds, allowing his receivers to get farther downfield with each tick, after being given one last play to throw a pass into the end zone. Then, for the game-winning score, he lofted a high-arching Hail Mary 65 yards in the air, which a Bears defensive back tipped at the goal line and flipped flawlessly into Commander's teammate Noah Brown's arms.
Chicago dropped to 4-3 in one of the most unlikely ways, while Washington improved to 6-2 with a victory of 18-15.
According to a video that went viral on X, Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson was seen conversing with Commanders supporters with his back to the play prior to the final play. Stevenson jumped and tipped the pass straight to Brown as he rushed into coverage.
In the end, Daniels had 326 passing yards and that game-changing touchdown. Williams threw for 131 yards and ran for 41 more as he made his homecoming to the Washington, D.C., area where he was raised.
Washington built a 9-0 halftime lead thanks to the astounding final completion, a spectacular, big play that ended a game that had produced few for most of the afternoon. Williams, who had just finished two weeks of straight victories with 530 combined passing yards and six touchdowns, was held to 33 yards passing and 29 rushing at the half by a Commanders defense that had had trouble getting stops for the majority of the season's first two months.
Daniels, on the other hand, had led the league's second-best offense in terms of average scoring in the first half, throwing for over 150 yards and producing a 61-yard connection. Despite this, Washington was only able to convert field goals rather than its typical touchdowns.
Five of the Bears' ten longest plays—four of which were off of Williams passes—occurred in the final quarter as Chicago rallied. With 6:18 left, Chicago even recovered from a fullback fumble at the goal line that cost them a touchdown.
It wasn't until there were twenty-three seconds left in the game that the Bears were ahead. With well over half a field in front of him, Daniels avoided tacklers on the final play, giving the impression that they would hold out. Then, in a season full of highlights, the right arm that has given fans optimism after they haven't seen a postseason berth since 2020 or a postseason victory since 2005, produced yet another one.
FAQs
Did the Bears win the Super Bowl in 1985?
The Chicago Bears, who won a Super Bowl and dominated the regular season in 1985, were a team full with personalities. The Bears finished 15-1, defeated the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX, and shut out the Giants and Rams in the playoffs by a combined 45-0.
How far was Jayden Daniels from Hail Mary?
Daniels zigged and zagged and stepped back up as he bought time for his receivers to go to the other end zone. The rookie threw a pass that went roughly 65 yards in the air close to the 35-yard line.
Who was the first QB to throw a Hail Mary?
Roger Staubach of the Cowboys made a spectacular pass that will always be remembered as the "Hail Mary" almost fifty years ago. The pass, which was made on December 28, 1975, helped the Cowboys defeat the reigning NFC champion Vikings in the playoffs' divisional round.
Paula Parente
Being a high NFL draft pick comes with tremendous expectations. The anticipation for their first encounter on Sunday was high because quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams, the top two players chosen in the April draft, had lived up to the expectation with their frequently explosive offensive playmaking halfway through their rookie seasons.
The game deviated somewhat from those high expectations for three quarters before turning into an instant classic in the last quarter, which concluded with the most memorable play of the 2024 NFL season thus far.
Williams and the Chicago Bears overcame a 12-point deficit to take a 15-12 lead against Washington with 23 seconds remaining, then converted a two-point field goal. This was accomplished by bringing up an offensive that had been lacking for the first three quarters.
Playing through a rib injury sustained just a week earlier, Daniels scurried about to extend the play 12 seconds, allowing his receivers to get farther downfield with each tick, after being given one last play to throw a pass into the end zone. Then, for the game-winning score, he lofted a high-arching Hail Mary 65 yards in the air, which a Bears defensive back tipped at the goal line and flipped flawlessly into Commander's teammate Noah Brown's arms.
Chicago dropped to 4-3 in one of the most unlikely ways, while Washington improved to 6-2 with a victory of 18-15.
According to a video that went viral on X, Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson was seen conversing with Commanders supporters with his back to the play prior to the final play. Stevenson jumped and tipped the pass straight to Brown as he rushed into coverage.
In the end, Daniels had 326 passing yards and that game-changing touchdown. Williams threw for 131 yards and ran for 41 more as he made his homecoming to the Washington, D.C., area where he was raised.
Washington built a 9-0 halftime lead thanks to the astounding final completion, a spectacular, big play that ended a game that had produced few for most of the afternoon. Williams, who had just finished two weeks of straight victories with 530 combined passing yards and six touchdowns, was held to 33 yards passing and 29 rushing at the half by a Commanders defense that had had trouble getting stops for the majority of the season's first two months.
Daniels, on the other hand, had led the league's second-best offense in terms of average scoring in the first half, throwing for over 150 yards and producing a 61-yard connection. Despite this, Washington was only able to convert field goals rather than its typical touchdowns.
Five of the Bears' ten longest plays—four of which were off of Williams passes—occurred in the final quarter as Chicago rallied. With 6:18 left, Chicago even recovered from a fullback fumble at the goal line that cost them a touchdown.
It wasn't until there were twenty-three seconds left in the game that the Bears were ahead. With well over half a field in front of him, Daniels avoided tacklers on the final play, giving the impression that they would hold out. Then, in a season full of highlights, the right arm that has given fans optimism after they haven't seen a postseason berth since 2020 or a postseason victory since 2005, produced yet another one.
FAQs
Did the Bears win the Super Bowl in 1985?
The Chicago Bears, who won a Super Bowl and dominated the regular season in 1985, were a team full with personalities. The Bears finished 15-1, defeated the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX, and shut out the Giants and Rams in the playoffs by a combined 45-0.
How far was Jayden Daniels from Hail Mary?
Daniels zigged and zagged and stepped back up as he bought time for his receivers to go to the other end zone. The rookie threw a pass that went roughly 65 yards in the air close to the 35-yard line.
Who was the first QB to throw a Hail Mary?
Roger Staubach of the Cowboys made a spectacular pass that will always be remembered as the "Hail Mary" almost fifty years ago. The pass, which was made on December 28, 1975, helped the Cowboys defeat the reigning NFC champion Vikings in the playoffs' divisional round.