Jayden Daniels continued to show lots of skill in week eight of the National Football League, as he led the Washington Commanders to a last second victory over the Chicago Bears. Daniels, the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, faced off against the first overall pick in the same draft, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Both quarterbacks won the Heisman Trophy, the award to the best college football player in the country, during their time in college, with Williams taking home the trophy while playing at the University of Southern California (USC) in 2022, and Daniels winning in 2023 while playing at Louisiana State University (LSU). According to Sun Devil Athletics, Daniels played at Arizona State University (ASU) for three seasons before transferring to LSU. The Commanders won 18-15 against Chicago on a game winning “Hail Mary.”
The Bears received the ball to start the game, but the drive would result in a punt. Washington was able to drive down the field, ending the possession with a kick from Commanders kicker Austin Seibert, making a 27 yard field goal. The Bears’ next drive would also result in a punt, as it was very evident that the team was dealing with some early struggles in the game. The Commanders would continue to take advantage of this slow start as Seibert made another field goal for Washington, this time from 30 yards. The relatively slow game would continue being such as both teams started the second quarter with a punt. The Bears were at their 40 yard line when they were stopped at fourth and one. Desperate for some measure of success, Williams would snap the ball with the intention to pass to wide receiver D.J. Moore, however it fell incomplete, and Washington got the ball on the failed fourth down conversion. Washington would try to capitalize on the turnover but instead settled for another field goal, with Seibert making it from 28 yards away. Washington would get the ball and run down the clock, as they went into halftime with a 9-0 lead.
The second half started with more sequential punts, as it became obvious that both offenses were struggling to find the spark that they needed. Seibert would make another field goal for Washington, this time from 47 yards, making the score 12-0. Next, both teams would punt again. After the punts, the Bears finally found some success, as Chicago running back D’Andre Swift would break loose and score a 56 yard rushing touchdown. Washington received the ball as the third quarter ended.
Washington continued their drive when the fourth quarter started, but Seibert missed a field goal from 51 yards away. After a series of punts, the Bears would get to Washington’s one yard line, but fumble the ball, being recovered by Washington defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton. The Commanders had to punt after failing to take advantage of the turnover. The Bears would get a late touchdown as running back Roschon Johnson would score a one yard rushing touchdown, the Bears would succeed on their two-point conversion, as Williams found tight end Cole Kmet to give Chicago a 15-12 lead. The Commanders had one last gasp, as Daniels scrambled around for a few seconds to find the right spot to throw, and then heaved it to the end zone. The ball bounced off a player’s hand, and Washington wide receiver Noah Brown secured the ball in the end zone, as the Commanders pulled off a “Hail Mary” for the win.
For the Bears’ stats, the team had 307 total yards, as Williams completed 10 of his 24 passes for 131 yards. Swift led Chicago in rushing with 18 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Rome Odunze was Chicago’s leading receiver with three catches for 41 yards. The Commanders had 481 total yards, as Daniels completed 21 of his 38 passes for 326 yards and a touchdown, running back Brian Robinson Jr. led the team in rushing with 16 carries for 65 yards. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin was Washington’s leading receiver with five catches for 125 yards.
With the win, the Commanders improved to 6-2 on the season, as they are in first place in the NFC East. The Bears fell to 4-4, as they currently sit last in the NFC North.
