The Washington Commanders completed an improbable comeback to beat the Chicago Bears 18-15 with a Hail Mary on the game’s final play.
Sunday’s contest was a showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in this year’s NFL Draft. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick, came out on top as the victor over fellow quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick.
Being the top two picks in the draft wasn’t the only storyline entering the game. Williams and Daniels are the last two Heisman Trophy winners. Williams is also from the Washington, DC Metro Area, growing up in Bowie, Maryland, and Northwest DC, and playing high school at Gonzaga College in the District.
Also, Daniels entered the game with a rib cartilage injury he suffered last week against the Carolina Panthers. Daniels fought through the pain.
The contest was a defensive battle for much of the game until the two QBs traded go-ahead touchdown drives in the waning moments.
The Commanders dominated yards and time of possession for much of the game. Yet, they got held to four field goals instead of touchdowns. The 12-0 lead wasn’t large enough to fend off the pesky Bears.
In the second half, the Bears flipped a switch and got going scoring, eventually taking the lead behind 15 unanswered points. However, the 23 seconds Chicago left on the clock couldn’t prevent Daniels’ heroics.
Commanders open with field goal, as Jayden Daniels gets wrapped up on the sideline
The Commanders’ defense starts firing as rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton gets his first career sack. Washington forces a three-and-out of Williams and the Bears offense.
Daniels puts his rib injury to the test with a nine-yard scramble. He alertly got out of bounds. The Commanders stayed run heavy with Brian Robinson, reaching the six-yard line. However, an incomplete pass to Luke McCaffrey on third down forced Washington to settle for a 27-yard field goal by kicker Austin Seibert.
Commanders 3, Bears 0
After the drive, Daniels was seen on the sidelines getting a bandage wrapped around his torso. CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson said
“It is just a towel, and a bandage.” Wolfson continued “No heat, no ice. You can see him (Daniels) on the bench right now, he was laughing. He seems okay. I was told he’s going to do that every time he comes off the field. Just going to rap it up, and that’s going to be maintenance throughout the game.”
Daniels completes his longest throw to McLaurin
Washington’s defense gets another stop on Williams and the Bears offense. However, a solid punt by Tory Taylor started the Commanders’ offense’s next drive from their nine-yard line.
Washington faced a third-and-eight from the 11, but Daniels used his wheels again, scrambling for nine yards and first down.
The first sign of his ribs bothering him came on a second down pass that sailed too high for wide receiver Terry McLaurin. However, Daniels returned McLaurin’s way on the next play, a third-and-nine, connecting this time on a 61-yard bomb down the field.
The complete was the longest of Daniels’ young career.
On second down, he tried to go to McLaurin on an out route. But the pass was too high for the receiver to reel it down. Facing a third-and-nine the Commanders needed a deep play to keep the drive alive.
Yet the drive stalled despite the Commanders reaching the Bears’ 10-yard line. A false start on reserve offensive tackle Trent Scott halted Washington’s momentum. Instead, the Commanders settled for a 30-yard field goal by Seibert.
Commanders 6, Bears 0
Commanders defense gets two straight stops before the half
After exchanging punts, the Bears had a fourth-and-one situation at their 40-yard line. Instead of punting, Chicago left the offense on the field. Williams went to former Maryland Terrapins star DJ Moore on a flare. Moore got met by both Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste and linebacker Frankie Luvu short of the first down for a turnover on downs.
Daniels kickstarted Washington’s drive with a 12-yard completion to tight end Zach Ertz. But, an ineligible receiver downfield negated a 24-yard gain by Dyami Brown on a bubble screen.
The Commanders got the 15-yard line off a 13-yard pickup on a scramble by Daniels and a defensive holding penalty against Bears safety Elijah Hicks.
Keeping up with the game’s theme, the Commanders settled on a field goal by Seibert after a controversial incomplete pass in the end zone to tight end Zach Ertz.
Washington’s head coach, Dan Quinn, challenged the call on the field, arguing that Ertz did maintain possession coming down in the end zone. However, the challenge was unsuccessful as the play stood as called on the field after the review.
Commanders 9, Bears 0
The Bears had their best drive up to this point, reaching the Commanders’ 23-yard line. D’Andre Swift lost two yards on first down. An incomplete pass followed on second down. Then disaster struck with Williams, who lost 15 yards on a Daron Payne sack, knocking Chicago out of field goal range.
Commanders offensive linemen penalty erases what would be the first touchdown of the game
To start the half, the Commanders open up with a punt.
Wolfson reported that Ertz, and head coach Quinn spoke to the offense in order to rejuvenate them for their next series.
“After that failed drive, Zach Ertz called the whole offense over. He said ‘We are trying to hard. We’re trying to do too much. Just be ourselves.’ And then after that, Dan Quinn went up to every individual group…And just reminded them to be themselves
Washington’s defense stopped the Bears for the first consecutive drive. The talk by Erz and Quinn worked with the Commanders moving the football. Daniels picked up nine on a scramble. Then Daniels found Olamide Zaccheus on a bubble screen and the receiver took 32 yards into the end zone. However, another ineligible man downfield erased the touchdown.
Ultimately, the Commanders had to settle for a 47-yard field goal, Seibert’s fourth make of the game.
Commanders 12, Bears 0
Deandre Swift scored the first touchdown of the game, in the third quarter
The momentum of the game shifted after another marvelous punt by Taylor pinned Washington inside the 10-yard line. The Commanders offense went three-and-out and after a punt to change possession, the Bears wasted zero time capitalizing on a short field.
On the second play on the drive, Bears running back D’Andre Swift broke through Wahsington’s defense down the sideline for a 56-yard touchdown — the first touchdown of the game.
Bears 7, Commanders 12
Commanders offensive line penalty leads to block field goal
Tempers flared after Daniels found McLaurin for a 25-yard gain. Mclaurin and Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson got into a jarring match. Just as officials separated the two, Commanders offensive guard Sam Cosmi exchanged words with Stevenson before Stevenson Cosmi’s face mask with his finger.
Later in the drive, the offensive line continued to bury the Commanders. Scott got called for his second false start penalty of the game. Scott had moved into left tackle as Cornelius Lucas was walked to the locker room by the training staff.
The Commanders settled for a 51-yard field goal attempt by Seibert. It appeared Bears defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. blocked the low kick. However, upon further review, Seibert never got enough on the kick.
The missed field goal was Seibert’s first at Northwest Stadium.
Bears fumble at the one yard line, possibly cost them the game.
Momentum stayed with the Bears after the two teams exchanged punts. Another great punt by Taylor pinned Washington back, and they couldn’t move the football.
The Bears offense seized the opportunity, driving 84 yards down the field to Washington’s two-yard line. Then, the Bears tried some trickery. Offensive coordinator Shane Walton opted for a handoff to backup center Doug Kramer instead of the red-hot Swift.
Kramer bobbled the handoff from Williams right into the hands of Newton, the Commanders defensive tackle. Newton was ruled down by contact at the three-yard line after the recovery.
Bears take the lead with 20 seconds
Despite the fumble, the Commanders’ offense failed to convert on third down. And come up empty for the fourth time this half. And the Bears take advantage of the opportunity with under a minute left. After a St. Juice pass interference on Keenan Allen, the Bears get right back on the one-yard line.
The Commanders’ offense continued to stall out despite getting the fumble. A punt by Way gave Chicago possession with 4:21 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Chicago marched down the field until they stumbled upon a 4th-and-3 from the 12-yard line. A pass intended for wide receiver Keenan Allen should have ended the game as it was incomplete. Yet, Washington’s cornerback Benjamin St-Juste got flagged for pass interference, playing the back at the one-yard line.
Roschon Johnson punched the football in with 23 seconds remaining to give the Bears their first lead. Williams pitched the football to tight end Cole Kmet for the two-point conversion.
Bears 15, Commanders 12
Daniels Hail Marry saves the Commanders from an embarrassing loss
The Commanders needed a miracle with 19 seconds remaining. Daniels completed an 11-yard pass to Ertz. Then he found McLaurin on an out route for 13 yards with two seconds remaining.
Two seconds was all the Commanders needed. Daniels danced around the backfield as Washington’s receivers raced to the end zone. He threw the ball at a cluster of Bears and Commanders players. The ball got batted in the air right into Brown’s hand, setting off pandemonium.
The Commanders won it on a 52-yard Hail Mary that trailed 60-plus yards in the air.
Commanders 18, Bears 15
With the spectacular win, Commanders advance to a 6-2 record. It’s Washington’s best start since the 2008 season.
Key Players Stats
Washington Commanders:
- Jayden Daniels (QB): 326 passing yards, 1 TD; 52 rushing yards
- Brian Robinson Jr. (RB): 65 rushing yards; 11 receiving yards
- Terry McLaurin (WR): 5 receptions, 125 yards
- Noah Brown (WR): 3 receptions, 73 yards — 52-yard TD
- Zach Ertz (TE): 7 receptions, 77 yards
- Quan Martin (S): 11 seven tackles, 1 tackle for loss
- Bobby Wagner (LB): 1 sack, four tackles
- Defense: 1 forced fumble, 327 total yards allowed
Chicago Bears:
- Caleb Williams (QB): 131 passing yards; 41 rushing yards
- Deandre Swift (RB): 129 rushing yards; 1 TD
- Rome Odunze (WR): 3 receptions, 141 yards
- TJ Edwards (LB): 1 sack, 6 tackles
