LANDOVER, Md. — Jayden Daniels threw a 52-yard Hail Mary pass to Noah Brown on the final play and the Washington Commanders beat the visiting Chicago Bears 18-15 on Sunday.
Roschon Johnson had scored from one yard out with 23 seconds left in regulation and the Bears complete the two-point conversion to take a 15-12 lead after trailing 12-0. That left just enough time for the Commanders to return the ensuing kickoff to the 24, then complete two short passes and set up the game-winning heave as time expired.
The Commanders improved to 6-2. The Bears are 4-3.
The game matched rookie quarterbacks Caleb Williams of Chicago, chosen No. 1 out of Southern California, and Daniels, taken No. 2 out of LSU in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Daniels was a game-time decision to play on Sunday after sustaining a rib injury on the Commanders’ first play from scrimmage in a home victory a week earlier against the Carolina Panthers. Daniels, who did not practice until Friday, was 21 of 38 for 326 yards and the score. He also ran eight times for 52 yards.
Washington’s Terry McLaurin made four catches for 112 yards.
It was a homecoming for Williams, who was raised in the Washington, D.C., area. He was 10 of 24 for 131 yards. D’Andre Swift ran for 129 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
The Commanders led 12-0 late in the third quarter when Swift ran left, cut upfield and raced 56 yards down the sideline for the Bears’ first score. The extra point pulled Chicago within 12-7.
On Washington’s next drive, Austin Seibert missed a 51-yard field-goal attempt after making four earlier kicks.
Daniels passed 12 yards to Zach Ertz on Washington’s second play from scrimmage and ran 9 yards on its third. Brian Robinson Jr. later ran 18 yards to the Chicago 16, and then 9 yards to the 7-yard line, but Washington had to settle for Seibert’s 27-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.
It marked the seventh game in a row that Chicago’s opponent scored first.
On Washington’s next possession, Daniels ran 9 yards on third-and-8 from its 11 and, three plays later, found McLaurin in stride along the sideline for a 61-yard gain to the Chicago 18. Again, the Bears’ defense stiffened, and Seibert made it 6-0 with 1:04 left in the first quarter.
After Chicago failed on fourth-and-1 on their 40, the Commanders drove inside the 10. A third-down pass to Ertz in the end zone was incomplete and Seibert’s 28-yard field goal made it 9-0 with 5:24 left in the half.
In the third quarter, Daniels’ 32-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus was nullified by a penalty, and the Commanders settled for Seibert’s 47-yard field goal for a 12-0 advantage with 5:48 left in the third quarter.
–Harvey Valentine, Field Level Media