Instant Reactions: Bears suffer heartbreak on Jayden Daniels Hail Mary

Oof.

That’s the best way to put it. Oof.

The Bears pulled off a miraculous comeback just to lose it all on a Jayden Daniels Hail Mary to Noah Brown for a 52-yard game-winning touchdown with zeroes on the clock.

Chicago’s defense kept the Bears alive all afternoon, bending, but failing to break to Daniels and the Washington offense. But one play is all it takes to change the narrative.

Caleb Williams and the offense couldn’t find a rhythm until the second half, and injuries to the offensive line had the No. 1 overall pick scrambling out of pressure all game. D’Andre Swift’s 56-yard touchdown finally lit a spark in the third quarter, and it felt like the tides were shifting when Austin Seibert shanked a field goal on the Commanders’ next drive.

Later in the fourth quarter, with the Bears on the goal line, Shane Waldron dialed up a dive play – to backup guard, center, and pseudo fullback Doug Kramer. A rough snap and an even shakier handoff resulted in Kramer coughing the ball forward and a lost fumble at the three-yard line.

However, the defense held strong and the offense got another shot. Caleb found his accuracy and turned into Superman, hitting DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen to set up Roschon Johnson’s lead-changing touchdown with 25 seconds left.

None of it matters. The comeback was all for naught. Daniels burned Chicago in the most crushing defeat for Bears fans since Cody Parkey’s double-doink in 2018 or Randall Cobb’s wide-open touchdown with the division on the line in 2013.

Onto Week 9 with too many questions for a team that snatched a defeat from the jaws of victory.

Bears lose, 18-15.

Nicholas Moreano

“Until the final whistle”. That’s the saying. And the Commanders did just that to win on a 52-yard Hail Mary to win the ball game. The Bears didn’t deserve to win this game. Let’s be honest. Chicago should’ve escaped with a victory but will leave Northwest Stadium with a devastating and heartbreaking loss. Next stop, Arizona.

Greg Braggs Jr.

Absolutely devastated. No other words than that.

Patrick Norton

I’m struggling to find the right words. From complete elation to utter deflation. Caleb Williams did everything in his power to propel the Bears to victory in the fourth quarter – and it still wasn’t enough. Just as classic as it gets. It wasn’t a good day for the offense, but it moved the ball in the second half when the game depended on it. I was at the game against the Chiefs at Soldier Field in 2011 when the only touchdown for either team was a Hail Mary from Tyler Palko to Dexter McCluster. This was that multiplied by 40. At least in that game, the Bears never had hope. Yikes.

Kevin Kaduk

Ball don’t lie? The Bears had no business winning this game given the offense’s performance for the first three quarters and bad coaching decisions for the entire game. And yet the defensive performance for 59:57 of the game had the Bears in position to escape Maryland with a win. You know what happened next. Matt Eberflus and Shane Waldron have a lot to answer for after this one and anyone feeling like Flus isn’t the coach for the future should feel wholly justified.