Oh, Hail No!
Sunday was the battle of the top two picks in this year’s NFL Draft. One of them looked like an MVP candidate and the other one needs some work in the lab. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears and No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders faced off against one another with fans being given an opportunity to see up close and personal if the league is in good hands over the next ten to fifteen years.
Although Sunday’s game at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, was not filled with the offensive fire power that many expected, there was a thrilling and unbelievable finish worthy of the talent on display.
Despite both having successful starts to their rookie campaigns, Williams and Daniels struggled to find the endzone on Sunday. Washington led 12-0 midway through the third quarter with all points coming from the leg of place kicker Austin Seibert.
But two rushing touchdowns, a 56-yarder by D’Andre Swift and one from one-yard out by the seldom used Roschon Johnson, meant the Bears held a slim three-point advantage, 15-12, with just 25 seconds left on the clock.
On the Commanders’ final drive, when they had to make the impossible happen, Daniels was able to guide the ball to Washington’s 48-yard line with two seconds remaining. And in the most dramatic of finishes, the rookie sensation, who was questionable all week due to a rib injury, heaved pass towards the endzone was tipped into a meeting room of players right into the waiting hands of Noah Brown for a 52-yard walk-off Hail Mary touchdown and a 18-15 victory for the Commanders.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe touchdown catch caused wild celebrations and pandemonium on the Washington sideline, with players running onto the field and even coach Dan Quinn jumping around, reminding everyone of the late Jim Valvano in 1983 when he won the National Championship with the NC State Wolfpack and was looking for people to hug.
Daniels admitted afterwards that he did not realize the ball had been caught by Brown until he “heard people screaming.”
As mentioned earlier, despite being questionable about whether he would be able to play on Sunday with a rib injury that he suffered against the Carolina Panthers, it was another feather in his cap in Daniels’ amazing rookie season, so far, as he made even more history.
The 52-yard touchdown was the second-longest, game-winning touchdown pass as time expired by a rookie in NFL history, according to the NFL, only beaten by the Cleveland Browns Tim Couch’s 56-yard touchdown throw to Kevin Johnson in 1999.
The final throw of Sunday’s contest also took him over 300 passing yards, meaning Daniels became the third rookie since 1950 with at least 300 yards passing, 50 yards rushing and zero interceptions thrown in a game alongside Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers Justin Herbert.
Afterwards, Brown paid tribute to his quarterback’s impact on the team.
“Man, we’re blessed to have (No.) 5 leading this team,” Brown told reporters. “The things he can do are special, even that last play, keeping his composure and fighting like hell to get the ball off, and threw a hell of a ball. I wouldn’t want to play with any other quarterback, I’m glad to have him.”
On the other hand, for the Bears, it was an agonizing and disappointing end to the game and one which saw one their starting defenders, Tyrique Stevenson, issuing an apology for his actions in the final play of the game.
Videos that went viral on social media showed Stevenson heckling Commanders fans while the Hail Mary play was in progress, with the 24-year-old making a bad situation worse, ending up tipping the ball into Brown’s hands for the touchdown.
Afterwards, he apologized for his actions in a post on social media. “To Chicago and teammates my apologies for lack of awareness and focus …. The game ain’t over until zeros hit the clock. Can’t take anything for granted. Notes taken, improvement will happen.”
The Bears travel to Arizona to face Kyler Murray and the Cardinals next Sunday.
The Commanders are on the road and will take on Daniel Jones and the New York Giants next Sunday.
