Three hours before kickoff, the Washington Commanders announced that their quarterback, Jayden Daniels, would play against the Chicago Bears in Landover, Maryland. The much-anticipated showdown between the number one overall pick, Caleb Williams, and the number two overall pick, Jayden Daniels, was in doubt due to an injury that Daniels suffered to his ribs in their Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers. The matchup did not disappoint with a last-second affair to remember.
Wild First Quarter Action
The Chicago Bears started the game with the football and after a few plays, a false start, and a dropped pass by DJ Moore, Tory Taylor punted it away 68 yards. The punt was fielded by WR Olamide Zaccheaus, who returned it 21 yards and fumbled the football backward. RB Jeremy McNichols of the Commanders picked up the fumble and returned it to the 36-yard line. Jayden Daniels led the Commanders into Bears territory. The Chicago Bears’ defense stiffened, forcing Washington to kick a short field goal, which was good.
The next Bears possession started at the Chicago Bears’ 29-yard line. On the drive, Caleb Williams completed a nice 18-yard pass to Keenan Allen, but a failed third down conversion led to another punt by Taylor. The Commanders took over at the 9-yard line, and after a few plays WR Terry McLaurin caught a 61-yard pass from Daniels on Bears’ CB Tyrique Stevenson to the Chicago 18-yard line. Again, the Chicago Bears’ defense held the Commanders to a field goal attempt, which was good.
Whacky Second Quarter
After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, the Chicago Bears possession started at their 30-yard line. On third down Williams tried to scramble but slid down a yard short of the first down. Taylor came in for his third punt of the game. After a few plays, the Chicago Bears defense forced a punt by Washington. Caleb Willams gets sacked on first down for a loss of five yards, then scrambled for 13 yards on second down. The Bears elected to go for it on fourth down and on a quick throw it quickly to DJ Moore the attempt failed.
Washington took over on downs at the Chicago Bears 40-yard line. On third down from the 9-yard line, Tyrique Stevenson broke up a sure touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Zach Ertz, forcing another Washington field goal. The Commanders led 9-0. On the ensuing Chicago Bears drive, starting LT Braxton Jones injured his knee and was replaced by Kiran Amegadjie. On third down and five, Chicago Bears WR Rome Odunze caught a pass from Caleb Williams for a 16-yard gain. The Bears drove the ball to the Commanders’ 23-yard line, but on third down and 12, Caleb Williams got sacked by Daron Payne for a 15-yard loss, knocking the Bears out of field goal range.
Tory Taylor’s fourth punt was fair caught at the Washington 8-yard line. The Commanders moved the ball quickly almost into field goal range just before halftime, but time expired as the Commanders led the Chicago Bears 9-0 at the half. The Bears had a paltry 90 yards of total offense at halftime compared to 267 yards for the Commanders with 13 first downs for Washington compared to six first downs for the Bears at the midway point. With almost equal time of possession, the Chicago Bears defense was the only reason the Bears are still alive in this game. A big change was needed for the Bears offense to score points.
Thrilling Third Quarter
Washington took the football at their 30-yard line after Cairo Santos booted the kickoff for a touchback. Jayden Daniels hit TE Zach Ertz for a 20-yard gain. TJ Edwards sacked Jayden Daniels for a six-yard loss on first down. On third down the Chicago Bears’ defense tackled Daniels for a five-yard loss and forced a punt. The Commanders’ punt was downed at the Bears four-yard line, pinning Chicago deep in their territory. The Bears went three and out, bringing Tory Taylor in for his fifth punt from the back of the endzone with a fair catch at the Washington 44, then a personal foul on the Bears moved the ball to their 41.
A Commanders touchdown was called back by a penalty, and the Chicago Bears defense again held the Commanders offense to a field goal. Commanders Kicker Austin Seibert kicked his fourth field goal through the uprights, making the score 12-0 midway through the third quarter. The Chicago offense couldn’t get anything going on their next possession, and Taylor came in for his sixth punt of the game. The Washington Commanders went three and out on their next possession. Chicago Bears RB D’Andre Swift took a handoff on the ensuing drive and ran it 56 yards for the Bears’ first touchdown. Cairo Santos’ PAT was good and the Commanders led 12-7.
Fantastic Fourth Quarter
The final stanza begins with Washington in scoring position with a first down at the Chicago Bears 36-yard line. On fourth down Seibert came out to attempt his fifth field goal, but Gervon Dexter Sr. blocked the kick for the Chicago Bears and the offense took possession at their 41-yard line. The Bears’ offense proceeded to go three and out and Tory Taylor booted his seventh punt of the day 55 yards, going out of bounds at the Washington 9-yard line. The Commanders punted back to the Bears with 10:28 left in the game.
The Bears offense comes back on the field at their 15-yard line to attempt a scoring drive. Bears starting Left Guard Teven Jenkins was hurt on the previous drive and was replaced by Bill Murray, who got hurt on this drive with an apparent shoulder injury. Doug Kramer came in at left guard to replace Bill Murray. DJ Moore caught a 27-yard pass from Caleb Williams and took the ball to the Commanders’ 8-yard line. Injured OL Teven Jenkins came back at left guard for the Bears on first and goal from the Washington 8-yard line. On second down and goal from the one-yard line, the Bears handed the ball off to OL Doug Kramer who lined up at fullback.
Caleb Williams and Doug Kramer couldn’t get a clean exchange on the handoff, and they fumbled the football at the goal line. The Commanders recovered the fumble and took over at their three-yard line. On third down, Jayden Daniels rushed an inch short of the line to gain and the Commanders brought out their punting unit. After the Bears took over, Caleb Williams hit Rome Odunze on a laser throw for 16 yards. A few plays later Williams bootlegged out to the right and hit WR Keenan Allen on a rope for a 22-yard gain to the Washington 19-yard line. At the two-minute warning, The Bears have second down and eight from the Commanders’ 17-yard line.
Recapping the Final Few Minutes
On fourth down and three from the 12-yard line, Caleb Williams threw the ball incomplete to WR Keenan Allen, but there was a holding penalty on the Washington Commanders defense, making it first and goal at the one-yard line. A few plays later Chicago Bears RB Roschon Johnson ran the ball in for a touchdown. The Bears elected to go for a two-point conversion. In a bunch set to the right, Williams hit Cole Kmet on a shovel pass to take a 15-12 lead with 25 seconds left in the game. Cairo Santos booted the ensuing kickoff to the goal line forcing a return by Austin Ekeler, running time off the clock.
The Washington Commanders offense came on the field with 0:19 left in the game. After a few plays, the Commanders moved the ball to their 48-yard line. After using their final timeout, with 0:02 seconds left on the clock, Jayden Daniels took the snap and scrambled around for several seconds before launching a Hail Mary pass into the endzone. The ball traveled over 50 yards in the air and as it was on the way down, it was tipped by Chicago Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson around the three-yard line. After bouncing off several players, it fell into the waiting hands of Commanders WR Noah Brown in the endzone for a touchdown.
Final Thoughts
Jayden Daniels showed no ill effects of his rib cartilage injury, leading the Commanders to a compelling last-second heroic victory 18-15. Caleb Williams proved that he can overcome adversity and led the Bears to what should have been a game-winning drive on the road in his hometown. The defense carried the Bears for the entire game until the final play, and it was a crushing way to lose as the Bears defense was mocking the Commanders and their fans on the final play. The Chicago Bears’ next two games are against teams with losing records before the Green Bay Packers come to Soldier Field in Week 11.
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