LANDOVER, Md. — Huddled within the Washington Commanders’ raucous locker room, two half-dressed offensive linemen stared at heart Tyler Biadasz’s cellphone in amazement. They witnessed the Hail Mary stay, and so they needed to relive it instantly after.
They pointed to the display screen, expressed disbelief at what they noticed — after which they performed it once more. It will not be the final time they re-watch Jayden Daniels’ 52-yard completion to Noah Brown within the Commanders’ 18-15 win over the Chicago Bears.
“I’ll watch this a pair dozen occasions,” guard Nick Allegretti stated.
Whereas the ultimate play was essentially the most exhilarating, the fourth quarter featured a number of wild turns, starting with an ill-fated try by the Bears to let a backup offensive lineman rating their go-ahead landing.
Here is how the gamers and coaches in each locker rooms remembered the important thing moments of probably the most thrilling finishes of the season.
The Bears had a third-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 6:21 left within the fourth and Washington main 12-7. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron despatched within the heavy package deal with backup heart Doug Kramer lining up within the backfield. It had been an efficient formation earlier within the season with Kramer as a lead blocker, however this was the primary time he took a handoff. Kramer by no means had management and sort out Jer’Zhan Newton recovered the free ball.
At that time, the Commanders had a 75.3% probability of profitable, in accordance with ESPN Analytics.
Kramer (through Marquee Sports activities Community): “I admire Shane for having the belief in me to name it. I made a mistake, dropped the ball on the one-yard line.”
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Jer’Zhan Newton recovers the fumble on the 3-yard line for Commanders
Jer’Zhan Newton is hyped after recovering a Bears fumble on the Commanders’ 3-yard line.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus: “No [thought of vetoing the play]. We have labored it, labored the mechanics of it, the hand-off to him, and we have simply received to do it higher. It is simply wedge blocking, and also you’re on the one-yard line. You have received an enormous man getting the ball. We have practiced it quite a bit.”
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams: “Consolation degree, 100%. It simply did not go that method, and we simply should execute. … Undoubtedly went over there and made positive Doug was alright. We nonetheless had time on the clock. … Undoubtedly encouraging Doug. He performed properly when he got here in, and I do know that mistake is bothering him, however I am happy with the blokes.”
Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner: “That was a terrific play. That is an enormous play. It put us ready to do that.”
Because it had all through a lot of the recreation, the Bears’ protection held after the turnover, forcing a three-and-out. The Bears regained possession at their very own 32 with 4:21 remaining. Williams marched the Bears to the Washington 12, and on fourth-and-three, he tried a go to Keenan Allen in the long run zone. A go interference penalty on Benjamin St-Juste saved the Bears alive, and two performs later, Roschon Johnson rumbled in for a landing with 23 seconds left. Williams hit tight finish Cole Kmet for the two-point conversion and a 15-12 lead.
At that time, the Bears had a 97.9% probability of profitable, in accordance with ESPN Analytics.
Eberflus: “The protection’s response to [the turnover] was glorious. Go three and out, pressure a punt.
“We get it again to midfield after which our offense converts a pair occasions on third down, get ’em down there.”
Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu: “I used to be on the sideline simply strolling down telling guys, ‘Head up, man. It is not over but.'”
The Commanders took over at their very own 24 with 19 seconds left. Daniels hit tight finish Zach Ertz with an 11-yard go over the center to arrange first-and-10 on the 35, and so they known as a timeout with six seconds left. Terry McLaurin caught a 13-yard go and was in a position to get out of bounds in time for one final play from the Washington 48.
McLaurin: “We simply needed to present ourselves an opportunity to place it ready for Jayden to throw the ball down there, and he has an unbelievable arm.”
On the ultimate play, Daniels held onto the ball for 12.79 seconds and scrambled 40.7 yards earlier than the go, essentially the most yards traveled by any participant earlier than throwing a TD go during the last 5 seasons. It is the primary TD go with a time to throw over 10 seconds within the Subsequent Gen Stats period (since 2016). From the time the ball was snapped till Brown caught it, 17 seconds elapsed.
The Commanders had a 1.4% win likelihood when the ball was snapped.
Daniels: “They did a very good job blocking, sort of extending, working round to present me sufficient time to throw the ball.”
Allegretti: “You are simply attempting to hit any individual in a special shade jersey. Give Jayden a shot to tear the ball.”
Bears defensive finish DeMarcus Walker: “Clearly we had been attempting to get him down. I imply, hats off to Jayden. Unimaginable legs.”
Brown: “He did an outstanding job retaining the play alive and getting one of the best ball attainable.”
Washington proper guard Sam Cosmi: “Defenders rolled to the best, chasing him, stopped. We pushed them by Jayden, rolled again his left. Nick made a terrific block. [Daniels] arrange and simply chucked it within the air. All I noticed was a black jersey come down with it and simply went loopy.”
Bears security Elijah Hicks (enjoying for Jaquan Brisker, who missed the sport with a concussion): “It felt like that play was all day. It took without end. I really feel like — I do not know the way lengthy — 17 seconds. That is loopy. … With the play 17 seconds, and every part breaking down and guys working free, you will have best methods of doing stuff, after which it is such as you see stuff.”
Ertz: “Jayden did a terrific job shopping for time. I’ve by no means been a part of a scramble drill into the Hail Mary, so it was nice by Jayden to get us all down there.”
Commanders coach Dan Quinn: “Jayden did a implausible job of shopping for time. I do not know the way lengthy the play was, nevertheless it took a protracted ass time. 13 seconds? Yeah, I felt each little bit of them.”
Commanders working again Austin Ekeler: “There was one second I used to be like, ‘Oh shoot,’ as a result of he was getting chased down like, ‘oh, do not get sacked, do not get sacked.’ And he clearly may be very elusive, so he hung a proper after which he received out of there.”
After scrambling, Daniels heaved it towards the tip zone, the place 5 defenders had been in entrance of Brown, who hauled within the game-winner. The go traveled 65.9 air yards, making it the third-longest passing landing by that metric since 2016.
Wagner: “When he threw the ball up, you noticed everyone was converging on the place the ball was at, however no one was behind the play. And as a defender, we’re coached that there is all the time going to be a man sitting behind and sitting in entrance, and they also’re ready for the tip, and you bought to be sure to go get it.”
Bears security Kevin Byard: “They are going to have a man that is supposed to leap up and catch the ball. We’re speculated to have a jumper, which I used to be. … I simply understand it was an enormous scrum in there. And clearly they executed higher than we did.”
McLaurin: “Jayden’s sort of aiming for the tip man. We’ll have a man within the again finish line simply in case it goes over. After which we received two guys within the entrance prepared for it. … I used to be prepared for it to be tipped ahead. Noah was prepared within the again. Luke [McCaffrey] was able to the facet.
“That ball fell proper into Noah’s arms. I do not assume I’ve seen a Hail Mary fall that completely off of a tip drill.”
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson: “There ought to by no means be any individual extensive open at the back of the tip zone. I can not let you know who was speculated to be there. I do not know. We have all received to discover a solution to execute higher down the stretch.”
Brown: “That occurred to be my project for the Hail Mary. … Ertz did a terrific job getting his hand on the ball, permitting it to get again to me, and we made the play.”
Really it was Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson who tipped the ball. He posted an apology to Bears followers on social media afterward.
To Chicago and teammates my apologies for lack of information and focus …. The sport ain’t over till zeros hit the clock. Cannot take something as a right. Notes taken, enchancment will occur. #Beardown
— Tyrique Stevenson (@dreamchaserTy10) October 28, 2024
Ertz: “I do not assume I really touched the ball. I do not know what the movie says per se, however I am taking the hockey help for positive. I do know I impacted the play, and Noah ended up with a landing and so we received the sport. That is all that issues.”
Daniels: “I simply heard folks screaming and our sideline rush the sphere. That is how I knew.”
Ekeler: “The group tell us that he caught it. And in order that was helmet off and everybody’s working and also you see the eruption from the sideline, which is a second I will always remember from this present day is seeing that sideline simply come on [the field].”
Allegretti: “I appeared up on the display screen and noticed the ball get tipped and I used to be like, holy s—, there is a man there and we caught it. By no means been part of one…I noticed it on the display screen and did not know who caught it till three minutes later.”
At the very least one of many Bears thought a penalty may have been known as on the ultimate play.
Walker: “I really feel like lots of guys positively had been held and blocked within the again. I seen one unlawful blindside block, however truthfully simply received to complete on the quarterback.”
Johnson: “It is a Hail Mary, they don’t seem to be going to name a holding, they don’t seem to be going to name go interference. It is a f—ing free play to beat your man. My power was on not letting my man [McLaurin] get to the tip zone. Hitting ’em, being bodily. Simply attempting to do what I can to not let my man catch the ball.”
McLaurin: “Jaylon Johnson pushed me on the bottom. Once we’re in that state of affairs, it is actually anyone’s ball. It is a free-for-all down there. Refs aren’t going to name holding. Boxing out. It is bodily.”
It was the primary recreation this century the place every crew scored a landing within the remaining 30 seconds of the fourth quarter.
Daniels: “That is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.”