The Washington Commanders appeared headed for a disappointing loss against the Chicago Bears in a Future 8 matchup between the top two 2024 NFL Draft picks, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels.
Neither quarterback could find a rhythm Sunday afternoon, but Williams (131 passing yards on 10-of-24 passing; 41 rushing yards on 10 carries) was able to hold Chicago in a 10-play scoring drive that ended with a run. running back Roschon Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown. That gave the Bears a 15-12 lead with 25 seconds left to play, and Washington only had one timeout remaining.
The chances were not in any case in the quarter of Daniels and company, but they did achieve their own 48 with two seconds left in the game, putting a shot over a Rain Mary. Then, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner turned around and uncorked a push toward the point zone. The football hung in the breeze for what seemed like 5 Mississippi before crashing into a sea of arms right in front of the goal. Commanders veteran wide receiver Noah Brown had a brilliant idea in a pressure-filled generation, as he subsidized himself to rise right at the back of the scrum of our bodies leaping toward the football. That allowed him to catch Daniels’ Rain Mary along his only end zone to complete the 52-yard stunner. Daniels completed 326 passing yards and the game-winning touchdown pass on 21-of-38 passing. He also struggled for 52 yards on eight carries.
“Nothing but God,” Daniels told CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson when asked to explain the game-winning 52-yard Rain Mary.
In addition to his outstanding attempt, Daniels was just the fifth rookie in NFL history to record 325+ passing yards and 50+ rushing yards in a game, according to CBS Sports Research. He joined Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (twice in 2020), Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (2020), then-Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (2017) and then-Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (2011) in that unique membership.
