As time expired, Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw a Hail Mary pass from his own 35-yard line that was tipped at the goal line by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson amid a crowd of players and caught by Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown in the end zone to win 18–15.
The game was also the first meeting between quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Daniels, who respectively were the 2022 and 2023 Heisman Trophy winners and the first and second overall selections in the 2024 NFL draft.
Washington kicker Austin Seibert then converted four field goals, including a 47-yarder in the third quarter to make the score 12–0.
[9] Bears running back D'Andre Swift then ran for a 56-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 12–7.
[9] The fourth quarter began with a 51-yard field goal attempt by Seibert; it was blocked by Gervon Dexter.
[9][10] With 23 seconds remaining, Bears running back Roschon Johnson scored a 1-yard touchdown.
The ball traveled into a crowd of players at the goal line and was tipped by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
Launches, deep pass, into the area, the end zone, tipped and it's caught by Noah Brown.
Crushing loss.With the win, the Commanders improved to 6–2 while the Bears fell to 4–3 and into last place in the NFC North standings.
[16] Daniels became the second rookie to throw a successful Hail Mary since 2006, when ESPN began to track the play.
"Daniels, speaking after the game, stated that he did not see Brown catch the pass and found out only after the crowd's reaction and the Commanders' sideline rushing the field.
[19] The conduct of Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was observed taunting Commanders fans for several seconds before and during the start of the play, was criticized.
[21] Many also criticized the Bears' play calls such as the attempted hand-off to backup offensive lineman Doug Kramer Jr. that resulted in a lost fumble at Washington's one-yard line earlier in the 4th quarter.