The 2024 Week 8 matchup between the and the , featuring the highly anticipated showdown between rookie quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, ended in one of the most improbable plays of the NFL season, dubbed the “Hail Maryland” miracle. With the Commanders trailing 15-12 and just two seconds left on the clock, Daniels evaded pressure for nearly 13 seconds — the longest time to throw recorded in the Next Gen Stats era — before unleashing a desperate 64-yard deep ball from his own 35-yard line. The throw was tipped by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who had infamously been taunting the crowd just moments earlier.
Revisiting Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary vs. Bears: How Commanders QB stunned world with last-second heave as rookie originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2024 Week 8 matchup between the and the , featuring the highly anticipated showdown between rookie quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, ended in one of the most improbable plays of the NFL season, dubbed the “Hail Maryland” miracle.
With the Commanders trailing 15-12 and just two seconds left on the clock, Daniels evaded pressure for nearly 13 seconds — the longest time to throw recorded in the Next Gen Stats era — before unleashing a desperate 64-yard deep ball from his own 35-yard line.
The game-winning score came not on a clean catch, but on a chaotic deflection near the goal line. The throw was tipped by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who had infamously been taunting the crowd just moments earlier. The ball floated backward into the end zone and landed squarely in the hands of wide receiver Noah Brown for the 52-yard touchdown, securing a stunning 18-15 victory for Washington as time expired.
The miraculous play instantly became a symbol of the two franchises’ diverging paths for the rest of the 2024 season: it completed the upset for the Commanders, who enjoyed their best start to a season since 2008, while simultaneously pushing the Bears to the first of what became a 10-game losing streak. Daniels, who played through a bruised rib injury, cemented his reputation as an extraordinary playmaker and won the 2024 NFL Moment of the Year award for the “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
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Jayden Daniels Hail Mary
With the Commanders trailing by three points and only two seconds remaining, Daniels scrambled for nearly 13 seconds behind the line of scrimmage, extending the play long enough for receivers to get downfield. He launched a deep pass from his own 35-yard line toward a crowd of players in the end zone, and after a ricochet, it was caught by Noah Brown.
The ball was tipped backward by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson — who was late to the play and had been seen taunting the Washington crowd moments before the snap.
Daniels was 21-for-38 for 326 yards and a touchdown on the day.
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Jayden Daniels Hail Mary video
A;FK;JD;KJF;LAKEJFLKJVAL;KEJL;JF;EFJ;LFAKJ
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
JAYDEN DANIELS HAIL MARY! @COMMANDERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/BsQ0Z84Rko
Who caught the Haily Mary from Jayden Daniels?
Noah Brown was on the other end of the hail mary, reeling in the 52-yard score.
Brown had three receptions for 73 yards on the day.
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How far did Jayden Daniel throw his Hail Mary?
Jayden Daniels threw his game-winning Hail Mary pass against the Chicago Bears a total distance of 64 yards through the air before it was tipped near the goal line and caught for a touchdown.
The play officially counted as a 52-yard completion from the line of scrimmage, but Next Gen Stats provided these remarkable metrics for the throw:
- Daniels held the ball for 12.79 seconds before release, which was the longest time to throw on any touchdown pass since Next Gen Stats began tracking the data in 2016
- Daniels scrambled 40.7 yards behind the line of scrimmage while evading the pass rush before launching the ball.
Tyrique Stevenson Hail Mary role
Stevenson, a cornerback for the Chicago Bears, was assigned to defend wide receiver Noah Brown on the final desperation heave.
Wow.
— Sky Kruse (@KruseSports_) October 28, 2024
Tyrique Stevenson seen taunting the crowd while the Hail Mary play was getting snapped.
Ultimately led to a touchdown that bounced off his hand.
Cant make this stuff up. #Bears
pic.twitter.com/1WklfpswtF
Stevenson was caught on video taunting the crowd with his back turned to the line of scrimmage as the ball was snapped. This meant he started the play late and was sprinting to catch up to the action while his teammates were already in position.
When he got to the crowd of players, Stevenson tipped the ball as it was coming down. His assignment, Brown, caught it and handed the Bears the first of what would become 10 straight losses.
Category: Football
